What can death teach about love? Downward journeys to Nowhere Special

All welcome.

In this talk I consider whether downward journeys might helpfully figure in an artful death education.

First, I chart the downward journey of David Hume, in the process unpacking what downward journeys might entail. Here I claim that downward journeys are stories about the loves of the dead or dying. Second, I document an altogether more personal downward journey – my own. Third, I explore the question of what death might teach about love. I argue that attending to death and loss may sometimes help the dying and grieving to live with love.

To make this argument I study some of Nussbaum’s views on love’s knowledge before relating these views to John’s downward journey in the film Nowhere Special. I explain how the film provides a window into death and love. I claim the film shows that knowing love is not really a matter of ‘knowledge’ but of living with love.

In the final part of the talk, I open up the question of whether there is a need for death education in schools and universities. Here, I acknowledge a need for death education but not necessarily in educational institutions. Wherever and whenever it occurs, I claim it demands artfulness. I conclude by offering some brief thoughts on what might be involved in artful death education, referring back to Nowhere Special in the process.