Death and language: Some comments on Haussamen

Journal/Book: Death Stud. 1998; 22: 1900 Frost Road, Suite 101, Bristol, PA 19007-1598. Hemisphere Publ Corp. 321-328.

Abstract: Brock Haussamen argues inventively that there are features of language that are the source of our belief in an afterlife, that something deep about language prevents us from talking about the dead as if they are really dead. He speaks of ''language as forcing.'' In this response to Haussamen's article, the author attempts to show that Haussamen's arguments and examples are not strong enough to make his point. The major suggestion is that there is more to the ''deep structure'' of language than Haussamen has assumed. Once this is realized, it is easier to see that it is we who choose to speak of the dead as we do. It is we who choose to believe in an afterlife. Language does no forcing.

Note: Article Zucker A, Ohio Univ, Dept Philosophy, 207 Rtech, Athens,OH 45701 USA

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