1st Edition

Death Education and Research Critical Perspectives

By William G Warren Copyright 1989

    A critical review of research and reflection in the area of death, with special emphasis on death education. Thought-provoking, often controversial reviews of and reactions to the current general domain of death phenomena--specifically death education--are addressed in this book.

    The author, skeptical that we can do very much with the phenomenon of death and dying, especially in relation to our efforts at addressing it educationally, explores the philosophical, psychological, socio-cultural, and theoretical aspects and raises critical questions that will challenge proponents of death education. Both advocates and critics of death education in particular, and death research in general, will benefit from this intellectually stimulating volume that sounds a cautionary note, yet offers some positive suggestions for the future of death education. Professionals interested in any aspect of death education will be intrigued by this thorough examination of death education from several perspectives.

    Contents
    Preface
    • Introduction
    • Part I: Some Philosophical Considerations
    • Traditional Western Thought and Existentialism
    • Rights and Values
    • Postscript: Non-Western Thought
    • Concluding Remarks
    • Part II: Some Psychological Considerations
    • Bereavement
    • Conceptualizing and Assessing Death Attitudes and Cognitions
    • Lifespan Differences in Death Orientations
    • The Empirical Study of Death Education
    • The Personal Construction of Death and Death Education
    • Concluding Remarks
    • Part III: Social and Ideological Aspects
    • Survey Data and Accountability
    • Religion and Death Education
    • Educational Radicalism
    • Concluding Remarks
    • Part IV: Praxis
    • Curriculum
    • Philosophy, Education, Death, and Life
    • Concluding Remarks
    • Conclusion
    • Subject Index
    • Author Index

    Biography

    William G Warren