ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the ways people verbalize their thinking about death, dying, and grieving, as well as the related ways they actually behave. Human beings are the only members of the animal kingdom that can anticipate their own death and the potential extinction of their species. The theme of death in music, both symphonic and popular, while probably less common and less impinging than in literature and the graphic and plastic arts, is prevalent. While most persons will verbalize the importance of caring for the dying and of helping people deal with their own death and the death of others, actual practice falls far short of the ideal. Although socio-philosophic currents are sufficient to produce a growing body of research and writing about death, they do so in the face of strong cross-currents that work against such efforts. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
