Jun 30, 2014 By: admin
Yeshiva College Professor Wins $34,500 Grant for Project that Tackles the Inherent Value of Immortality鈥擮r Lack Thereof
What鈥檚 so great about living forever?
It may seem like a no-brainer, but Dr. Aaron Segal, assistant professor of philosophy at 黑料社 All鈥檚 , isn鈥檛 convinced. While the pros and cons of immortality have been heatedly debated in the philosophical community for thousands of years鈥擨f we could extend our lives indefinitely, should we? If living is good, is living longer better?鈥攖he qualities that make immortality desirable haven鈥檛 been clearly defined.
鈥淭he arguments that have been offered are usually arguments that attempt to show that there is something wrong or bad about us being immortal, like we would be terminally bored or not able to value what makes life meaningful,鈥 said Segal. But he believes there is a more basic question philosophers have yet to answer: What would make immortal life so great in and of itself that couldn鈥檛 be achieved, at least in theory, during a more limited lifetime?
Segal鈥檚 answer, in a nutshell, is: nothing.
鈥淚n my work, I ask if there鈥檚 something desirable about immortality that isn鈥檛 in principle available to someone who鈥檚 just a mere mortal, and I intend to argue that the answer is no, there鈥檚 nothing you get out of immortal life that you couldn鈥檛 get in a mortal life, at least in principle,鈥 said Segal.
Segal鈥檚 revolutionary premise has been awarded an extremely competitive $34,500 grant from the Immortality Project at the University of California-Riverside, funded by the John Templeton Foundation and directed by celebrated philosopher Dr. John Martin Fischer, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Riverside. The Project seeks to foster discussions on the science, philosophy and theology of immortality. The grant will support Segal as he seeks to explore and answer this issue in a paper titled, 鈥淲hy Live Forever?鈥, to be presented at a capstone conference at Riverside next June.
In his investigation of the issue, Segal will employ metaphysics and advanced mathematics related to the concept of infinity, tools rarely applied to the philosophical study of immortality. In particular, he鈥檒l draw on the branch of mathematics known as 鈥渕easure theory鈥 to support his claim that any virtue of immortality is not about the life that鈥檚 lived but things external to it. He is also designing a Yeshiva College course, 鈥淢ortality, Immortality and Meaning,鈥 which will introduce students to the larger context of the philosophical discussion next fall.
鈥淨uestions like 鈥楧oes death rob life of meaning, or grant meaning to it?鈥 and 鈥業s death ever bad for the one who dies?鈥 are questions most students think are significant, but don鈥檛 have the opportunity to explore carefully or rigorously,鈥 said Segal. 鈥淓ven philosophy students haven鈥檛 had that chance because until recently, these weren鈥檛 the topics dominating philosophical discussion. This course will give students the chance to be on the cutting edge of philosophical debate, but also to talk about issues they naturally feel are important.鈥
Segal noted that the course would examine the philosophical implications of Jewish texts as well. 鈥淔or example,鈥 Segal said, 鈥渨hile it is abundantly clear in our tradition that personal immortality is of ultimate significance, some classical Jewish texts suggest that the great value of immortality does not lie in an immortal life per se. Rather its value lies in the world being such that the Master of the Universe, rather than death, has the last word. I look forward to exploring our traditional sources, together with the students, carefully and faithfully.鈥
Segal, who began teaching at YU last year after completing his doctorate in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, credits his love of the field to the courses he took himself as an undergraduate at Yeshiva College. 鈥淚 fell in love with philosophy in college because of my now-colleague, [Associate Professor and Co-Chair of the Philosophy Department] Dr. David Johnson,鈥 said Segal. 鈥淚 only came to appreciate what philosophers actually do when I took his courses, and once I understood what that was, I couldn鈥檛 stop doing it.鈥
Now on the other side of the desk, he enjoys encountering the same enthusiasm in his own students. 鈥淭he students here are absolutely fantastic,鈥 Segal said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e very earnest, they鈥檙e sharp, they鈥檙e curious, and they鈥檙e serious without taking themselves too seriously. The faculty and administration here has also been extremely warm and welcoming. It鈥檚 wonderful to work in such an encouraging environment.鈥
鈥淒r. Segal has been a fabulous addition to our faculty, as a scholar, as a teacher and as a presence on campus,鈥 said Dr. David Shatz, professor of philosophy and co-chair of the department. 鈥淗e is only one year out of graduate school, yet already has published many scholarly articles and reviews, earned a contract for a co-edited book with a distinguished press, and co-founded The Association for the Philosophy of Judaism, which has made numerous contributions to the field. On top of his achievements in both general and Jewish philosophy, he is an outstanding Talmudic scholar.鈥
Shatz added, 鈥淪tudents are excited by Dr. Segal鈥檚 highly innovative and rigorous courses. Aside from the training he provides them in philosophical analysis and argument, they also deeply appreciate his accessibility, his wit and his dedication.鈥
鈥淚t is personally thrilling to have Aaron Segal as a member of the Yeshiva College faculty,鈥 said Dr. Barry Eichler, dean of Yeshiva College. 鈥淗e has been recognized as one of the most outstanding young scholars of his generation in the fields of metaphysics and the philosophy of religion and also possesses broad competency in philosophy of the mind, epistemology, ethics, logic and Jewish philosophy. As an alumnus of Yeshiva College and an ordained rabbi, he is a wonderful role model and an exciting intellectual resource for our students.鈥
What鈥檚 so great about living forever?
It may seem like a no-brainer, but Dr. Aaron Segal, assistant professor of philosophy at 黑料社 All鈥檚 , isn鈥檛 convinced. While the pros and cons of immortality have been heatedly debated in the philosophical community for thousands of years鈥擨f we could extend our lives indefinitely, should we? If living is good, is living longer better?鈥攖he qualities that make immortality desirable haven鈥檛 been clearly defined.
鈥淭he arguments that have been offered are usually arguments that attempt to show that there is something wrong or bad about us being immortal, like we would be terminally bored or not able to value what makes life meaningful,鈥 said Segal. But he believes there is a more basic question philosophers have yet to answer: What would make immortal life so great in and of itself that couldn鈥檛 be achieved, at least in theory, during a more limited lifetime?
Segal鈥檚 answer, in a nutshell, is: nothing.
鈥淚n my work, I ask if there鈥檚 something desirable about immortality that isn鈥檛 in principle available to someone who鈥檚 just a mere mortal, and I intend to argue that the answer is no, there鈥檚 nothing you get out of immortal life that you couldn鈥檛 get in a mortal life, at least in principle,鈥 said Segal.
Segal鈥檚 revolutionary premise has been awarded an extremely competitive $34,500 grant from the Immortality Project at the University of California-Riverside, funded by the John Templeton Foundation and directed by celebrated philosopher Dr. John Martin Fischer, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Riverside. The Project seeks to foster discussions on the science, philosophy and theology of immortality. The grant will support Segal as he seeks to explore and answer this issue in a paper titled, 鈥淲hy Live Forever?鈥, to be presented at a capstone conference at Riverside next June.
In his investigation of the issue, Segal will employ metaphysics and advanced mathematics related to the concept of infinity, tools rarely applied to the philosophical study of immortality. In particular, he鈥檒l draw on the branch of mathematics known as 鈥渕easure theory鈥 to support his claim that any virtue of immortality is not about the life that鈥檚 lived but things external to it. He is also designing a Yeshiva College course, 鈥淢ortality, Immortality and Meaning,鈥 which will introduce students to the larger context of the philosophical discussion next fall.
鈥淨uestions like 鈥楧oes death rob life of meaning, or grant meaning to it?鈥 and 鈥業s death ever bad for the one who dies?鈥 are questions most students think are significant, but don鈥檛 have the opportunity to explore carefully or rigorously,鈥 said Segal. 鈥淓ven philosophy students haven鈥檛 had that chance because until recently, these weren鈥檛 the topics dominating philosophical discussion. This course will give students the chance to be on the cutting edge of philosophical debate, but also to talk about issues they naturally feel are important.鈥
Segal noted that the course would examine the philosophical implications of Jewish texts as well. 鈥淔or example,鈥 Segal said, 鈥渨hile it is abundantly clear in our tradition that personal immortality is of ultimate significance, some classical Jewish texts suggest that the great value of immortality does not lie in an immortal life per se. Rather its value lies in the world being such that the Master of the Universe, rather than death, has the last word. I look forward to exploring our traditional sources, together with the students, carefully and faithfully.鈥
Segal, who began teaching at YU last year after completing his doctorate in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, credits his love of the field to the courses he took himself as an undergraduate at Yeshiva College. 鈥淚 fell in love with philosophy in college because of my now-colleague, [Associate Professor and Co-Chair of the Philosophy Department] Dr. David Johnson,鈥 said Segal. 鈥淚 only came to appreciate what philosophers actually do when I took his courses, and once I understood what that was, I couldn鈥檛 stop doing it.鈥
Now on the other side of the desk, he enjoys encountering the same enthusiasm in his own students. 鈥淭he students here are absolutely fantastic,鈥 Segal said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e very earnest, they鈥檙e sharp, they鈥檙e curious, and they鈥檙e serious without taking themselves too seriously. The faculty and administration here has also been extremely warm and welcoming. It鈥檚 wonderful to work in such an encouraging environment.鈥
鈥淒r. Segal has been a fabulous addition to our faculty, as a scholar, as a teacher and as a presence on campus,鈥 said Dr. David Shatz, professor of philosophy and co-chair of the department. 鈥淗e is only one year out of graduate school, yet already has published many scholarly articles and reviews, earned a contract for a co-edited book with a distinguished press, and co-founded The Association for the Philosophy of Judaism, which has made numerous contributions to the field. On top of his achievements in both general and Jewish philosophy, he is an outstanding Talmudic scholar.鈥
Shatz added, 鈥淪tudents are excited by Dr. Segal鈥檚 highly innovative and rigorous courses. Aside from the training he provides them in philosophical analysis and argument, they also deeply appreciate his accessibility, his wit and his dedication.鈥
鈥淚t is personally thrilling to have Aaron Segal as a member of the Yeshiva College faculty,鈥 said Dr. Barry Eichler, dean of Yeshiva College. 鈥淗e has been recognized as one of the most outstanding young scholars of his generation in the fields of metaphysics and the philosophy of religion and also possesses broad competency in philosophy of the mind, epistemology, ethics, logic and Jewish philosophy. As an alumnus of Yeshiva College and an ordained rabbi, he is a wonderful role model and an exciting intellectual resource for our students.鈥
