ABSTRACT
The historical transition from one to another has been of enormous consequence to societies. Franz Borkenau presents a simple and schematic history of death in which the transition from one stage and type of civilization to another is punctuated by a Dark Age out of which a new civilization arises. Borkenau is obviously personally committed to a view of immortality that he thinks he can substantiate by reference to Sigmund Freud. David Hume died on the August 25,1775. According to all eyewitness statements, including that of James Boswell, who later wrote a report entitled “An account of my last interview with David Hume Esq.,” Hume died as much a “philosopher’s death” as anyone could have wished for. Death is more than just a fact of Nature; it is also a meaningful event, perhaps the most important of all to humans for they have never ceased interpreting it symbolically.
