Life Everlasting

Name: Life Everlasting
Author: John Fiske

By John Fiske

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About This Book

A philosophical and anthropological exploration traces how human cultures have developed beliefs about survival after bodily death from primitive ghost‑ideas to refined theological and poetic formulations. It analyzes origins in dreams, animism, and funerary practice and shows how such beliefs have influenced ethics and social institutions. It then confronts modern evolutionary and scientific objections, assessing whether notions of a disembodied continuant remain coherent when natural history is taken into account. Through comparative myth‑making and reasoned argument the work seeks to reconcile imaginative yearnings for immortality with critical knowledge while clarifying the psychological and moral functions those yearnings perform.

About the Author

John Fiske

John Fiske was an American philosopher and historian, known for his influential works on American history and political thought. His writings often explored the intersections of science, mythology, and history, contributing to a broader understanding of American identity and culture. Fiske's notable works include "The American Revolution," which examines the ideological foundations of the United States, and "Myths and Myth-Makers," where he interprets folklore through the lens of comparative mythology. His scholarship reflects a deep engagement with the philosophical implications of historical events, making him a significant figure in the study of American intellectual history.