The paper is based on the book Death. From Dust to Destiny by Richard Brilliant that
treats one of the most mysterious and philosophical aspects of our existence, or rather its termination, and the way to reconcile with it. After the first traumatizing losses in his life, the author begins to concentrate first on the funeral itself and the components of a formal ceremony in order to distance himself from the family tragedies, and later studying and analyzing “WKH VXUYLYRUV¶ EHKDYLRU WKDW IROORZHG WKH SHUFHSWLRQ RI GHDWK DQG YDULHG experiences of loss, which are subjected to ritual.” The universality of death`s occurrence in human existence, despite our reluctance to accept its apparent finality, demonstrates its central importance for human consciousness. That sensibility manifests itself in various cultural practices, responding to the fact of death and to the unknown consequences following the
termination of life. And here we introduce one more important function of art, to which the author resorts – demonstration of life in all its manifestations and, by showing a wide spectrum of its recurrent possibilities, the way to reconcile us with its imperfections, losses and final termination. Reproductions of famous works of art (135 illustrations, 75 in colour) and pictures of sepulchral monuments accompany the author’s meditations and reasonings about the final fate of man and its implications for the living. They are supported by quotations from religious books, works by philosophers and poets.
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