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Basic Bioethics
The Case against Death
A philosopher refutes our culturally embedded acceptance of death, arguing instead for the desirability of anti-aging science and radical life extension.
Ingemar Patrick Linden's central claim is that death is evil. In this first comprehensive refutation of the most common arguments in favor of human mortality, he writes passionately in favor of anti-aging science and radical life extension. We may be on the cusp of a new human condition, where scientists seek to break through the arbitrarily set age limit of human existence, to address aging as an illness that can be cured. The book, however, is not about the science and technology of life extension but whether we should want more life. For Linden, the answer is a loud and clear “yes.”
The acceptance of death is deeply embedded in our culture. Linden examines the views of major philosophical voices of the past, whom he calls “death's ardent advocates.” These include the Buddha, Socrates, Plato, Lucretius, and Montaigne. All have taught what he calls “the Wise View,” namely, that we should not fear death. After setting out his case against death, Linden systematically examines each of the accepted arguments for death—that aging and death are natural, that death is harmless, that life is overrated, that living longer would be boring, and that death saves us from overpopulation. He concludes with a “dialogue concerning the badness of human mortality.” Though Linden acknowledges that The Case Against Death is a negative polemic, he also defends it as optimistic, in that the badness of death is a function of the goodness of life.
Ingemar Patrick Linden's central claim is that death is evil. In this first comprehensive refutation of the most common arguments in favor of human mortality, he writes passionately in favor of anti-aging science and radical life extension. We may be on the cusp of a new human condition, where scientists seek to break through the arbitrarily set age limit of human existence, to address aging as an illness that can be cured. The book, however, is not about the science and technology of life extension but whether we should want more life. For Linden, the answer is a loud and clear “yes.”
The acceptance of death is deeply embedded in our culture. Linden examines the views of major philosophical voices of the past, whom he calls “death's ardent advocates.” These include the Buddha, Socrates, Plato, Lucretius, and Montaigne. All have taught what he calls “the Wise View,” namely, that we should not fear death. After setting out his case against death, Linden systematically examines each of the accepted arguments for death—that aging and death are natural, that death is harmless, that life is overrated, that living longer would be boring, and that death saves us from overpopulation. He concludes with a “dialogue concerning the badness of human mortality.” Though Linden acknowledges that The Case Against Death is a negative polemic, he also defends it as optimistic, in that the badness of death is a function of the goodness of life.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
270 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 9, 2022
Why do you think death is so widely accepted amongst most people in the world? Is it because life is truly suffering and we cannot wait to take the first ticket out? Or is it more likely that life is, on-balance, a good thing and to cope with the loss that death is we have created unique systems to convince ourselves that it is the fitting end to a well lived life?
In The Case Against Death our author Patrick Ingemar Linden analzses why death-acceptance is so prevalent and the common arguments that support the claim that death is a good thing. Called “The Wise View”, death acceptance is a position held by many of our greatest thinkers from The Buddha to Plato and Montaigne. However Linden argues that this view is a fragile one. Throughout this book we take a hard look at the common arguments that advocates of death hold such as
Death is natural and therefore a good thing
Death is not harmful because you will not experience it
Without death life would not hold meaning
If dying is relinquished then we will have overpopulation
And many more arguments.
I have to admit, these are all serious concerns, which is why this book was such an enthralling read for me. Linden systemically dismisses the major concerns of all the common arguments against ending aging.
It should be noted that this book is not discussing the science or technology behind ending aging but rather the ethical concerns about the attempt to do so. For me this is an immensely important book for this reason. So often our technology advances with a small percentage of our population aware of the implications. If we do not talk about how to solve the ethical dilemmas present with this coming technology then where will we be?
For anyone interested in the quest to end aging this title by MIT Press is a must read. To me this is an instant classic on the subject and I will be going into my third readthrough soon. For additional reading on the ethics of ending again I would also highly recommend pairing this book with John K. Davis’s “New Methusalahs” also put out by MIT Press
In The Case Against Death our author Patrick Ingemar Linden analzses why death-acceptance is so prevalent and the common arguments that support the claim that death is a good thing. Called “The Wise View”, death acceptance is a position held by many of our greatest thinkers from The Buddha to Plato and Montaigne. However Linden argues that this view is a fragile one. Throughout this book we take a hard look at the common arguments that advocates of death hold such as
Death is natural and therefore a good thing
Death is not harmful because you will not experience it
Without death life would not hold meaning
If dying is relinquished then we will have overpopulation
And many more arguments.
I have to admit, these are all serious concerns, which is why this book was such an enthralling read for me. Linden systemically dismisses the major concerns of all the common arguments against ending aging.
It should be noted that this book is not discussing the science or technology behind ending aging but rather the ethical concerns about the attempt to do so. For me this is an immensely important book for this reason. So often our technology advances with a small percentage of our population aware of the implications. If we do not talk about how to solve the ethical dilemmas present with this coming technology then where will we be?
For anyone interested in the quest to end aging this title by MIT Press is a must read. To me this is an instant classic on the subject and I will be going into my third readthrough soon. For additional reading on the ethics of ending again I would also highly recommend pairing this book with John K. Davis’s “New Methusalahs” also put out by MIT Press
December 28, 2022
A very convincing and comprehensive book. It goes through all of the arguments used by death apologists and shows the problems with them. I wish it had dealt with concerns about distribution a bit more seriously, but I guess that detailed discussions on the politics of life extension were beyond the scope of this book.
August 25, 2025
Good book. Well written, researched and argued, with plenty of supporting references. By the nature of subject, it does spend quite a part arguing against nonsensical arguments people raise. But that is not a criticism, it had to be done for completeness.
Main contribution and my main takeaway - there is a Wise View of death in our culture, whose time of utility has expired. We need to recognise it and let go of it.
Main contribution and my main takeaway - there is a Wise View of death in our culture, whose time of utility has expired. We need to recognise it and let go of it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews