Immortality | Absolute Idealist Philosophy

This is a recording of the first part of John McTaggart Ellis McTaggart’s 1916 philosophical work, “Human Immortality and Pre-Existence.” McTaggart published the book in the midst of WWI with the hope that bereaved families suffering from the loss of loved ones could take comfort in the possibility of seeing them again. The first section, entitled “Human Immortality,” undermines common objections to the view that selves are immortal, and supplies positive arguments that refute the idea that selves are “activities” of their bodies.

The only reasons that we have for the disbelief in the immortality of selves are based upon inferences from certain empirical observations. In Experience, we encounter selves with bodies much like our own. Our selves are said to be Spirit, while our bodies are said to be Matter. Now, we may come across a Body that, at one point in time, belonged to a self. The self influenced his body, and the body influenced the self. This self’s body was once lively and active; but after a period of time, it fell silent and became motionless. It grew stiff and became cold to the touch. Eventually, the dormant body began to decompose into parts; and those parts decomposed into more basic parts; and so on. From this experience, we infer that our own bodies will also decompose in like manner. Now, how do such experiences relate to the disbelief in the immortality of selves?

The aforementioned observations are said to justify the belief that selves are “activities” of their bodies, and that selves are destroyed upon the destruction of their bodies. Now, the belief that selves are “activities” of their bodies (i.e., particular arrangements of Matter) can only be justified by appealing to two other beliefs: (a) that Matter exists; and (b) that Matter exists independent of Spirit. Therefore, it follows that if all positive arguments for (a) the existence of Matter, and (b) the existence of Matter independent of Spirit, are either invalid or fallacious, then those who hold selves to be “activities” of their bodies have no justification for the following beliefs: (a) that Matter exists; (b) that Matter exists independent of Spirit; (c) that selves are “activities” of their bodies; and (d) that selves are not immortal—as justified by an appeal to either (a), (b), or (c).

Link to a digital copy of “Human Immortality and Pre-Existence”:

Here is a link to the MP3:

[xenocrates]

There is a wonderful lucidity, a kind of lyricism, in McTaggart's writing that I find very attractive. Thanks for posting this.

[MarcoSilesio]

long time no see bud, keep it up with the vids

[nightmare_automata]

Late to the party, but I must say: the beauty of this leaves me convinced that philosophy is its own kind of art.

[tomasgallo]

What a great talk. Congratulations man!

[yusukesmokes]

I was reading this a few days ago, and seeing this has given me the need to continue on with it.

[pedrosainhas]

Hello great channel and website! I'm Pedro and I'm Portuguese, I study history and philosophy at the university of Coimbra. I discovered the channel recently and I really like the posts and videos. I would like to ask a question, I sympathize a lot with idealism but in my university many professors refer that "Russell and Moore refuted idealism", could someone recommend me some article of response to the criticism of these authors to the British idealism? Or to Moore's critique that all idealism is based on the idea that "to be is to be perceived"? Thank you very much and great work!

[stephenblackwell]

Anywhere where these videos are available as mp3 downloads?