Written with wisdom and eloquence, this 303-page book thoroughly but sensitively discusses biblical notions of death, the impact of science, the various attempts by immortalists to describe heaven, and the failure of spiritual "proofs." Corliss Lamont also argues for a new, ethical affirmation of life based upon an appreciation of our common mortality.
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"Extraordinarily complete and well informed...worthy of the serious attention of all thoughtful persons." -- John Dewey
From the Back Cover
In clear and unflinching language, Dr. Corliss Lamont states the case for human mortality--the finality of death. But, he argues, the illusion of immortality is an affirmative vision, not a negative one. "Extraordinarily complete and well informed...worthy of the serious attention of all thoughtful persons."
(John Dewey)
Born in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1902, Dr. Lamont graduated first from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1920, then magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1924. He did graduate work at Oxford and at Columbia, where he received his Ph.D. in philosophy in 1932.
He was director of the American Civil Liberties Union from 1932 to 1954, and is currently chairman of the national Emergency Civil Liberties Committee. A leading proponent of the individual's rights under the Constitution, he has won famous court decisions over Senator Joseph McCarthy, the CIA, and in 1965 a Supreme Court ruling against censorship of incoming mail by the U.S. Postmaster General.
Dr. Lamont has long been associated with Humanism, and authored the standard text on the subject, The Philosophy of Humanism, in 1949. He taught at Columbia, Cornell, and Harvard Universities, and at the New School for Social Research. Corliss Lamont is currently honorary president of the American Humanist Association. AUTHOR BIO: Born in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1902, Dr. Lamont graduated first from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1920, then magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1924. He did graduate work at Oxford and at Columbia, where he received his Ph.D. in philosophy in 1932.
He was a director of the American Civil Liberties Union from 1932 to 1954. Then, until 1995, he was chairman of the National Emergency Civil Liberties Committee. A leading proponent of individual rights under the Constitution, he won famous court decisions over Senator Joseph McCarthy and the CIA. In 1965 he secured a Supreme Court ruling against censorship of incoming mail by the U.S. Postmaster General.
Dr. Lamont has long been associated with Humanism, authoring the first edition of The Philosophy of Humanism in 1949. It has since become the standard text on the subject. He taught at Columbia, Cornell, and Harvard Universities, and at the New School for Social Research. Corliss Lamont was the honorary president of the American Humanist Association at the time of his death in 1995.
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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
http://www.infidels.org/infidels/products/books/,
This review is from: The Illusion of Immortality (Paperback)
"_The Illusion of Immortality_ is the only book I know of which details the often ignored scientific evidence against life after death (though a few articles can be found on the subject), but with its first edition published in 1935, the evidence cited is a bit dated. Lamont first outlines different historical views of immortality, from the ancient Greek belief that everyone enters a faded and deteroriating existence in Hades when they die, through the early Hebrew belief that
death ends with the annihilation of consciousness, to modern astral body views. Lamont should be credited for pointing out that the notion of immortality does not presuppose that an existence after death will necessarily be a worthwhile immortality--an idea often not considered those who believe in an afterlife--as the ancient Greek notion of Hades illustrates. In addition to addressing different kinds of survival of bodily death and the evidence against it, Lamont considers the problem of what an afterlife environment could possibly be like and arguments that immortality must be guaranteed by the benevolence of God. There is some confusion in Lamont's argument for a kind of reductionist materialism, for in arguing that the mind is a function of the brain, he proposes the existence of "nonphysical ideas"--so it appears that he is actually arguing that the mind is a product of the brain (epiphenomenalism) as opposed to arguing that the mind is identical to the brain (reductionist materialism). Lamont concludes by considering the motivations for belief in life after death and coping with living a finite
existence. As a whole, _The Illusion of Immortality_ is a very good introduction to the some of the philosophical issues and scientific evidence against life after death."
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Changed my life,
By
This review is from: The Illusion of Immortality (Paperback)
This book absolutely changed my life... for better or worse, I am still unsure... but I feel liberated nonetheless. My Father has died since and I felt the real sorrow of actually feeling like I am not to ever see him again... just because of this book. I read it a couple of years ago & I am just now starting to get over the shock and sorrow of what Corliss Lamont pointed out. I am not sorry I read it I suppose... afterall I cannot be angry at the truth. Yet on the other hand, is not the "mirage" of afterlife a false sense of happiness that we sorely need through this life? Once a believer actually comes to the end, they'll never really know if the afterlife was a big lie... because they'll be dead... and thus, unaware of their mistaken prediction. Meanwhile with blind "faith", they can at least wear a smile on their face until the end. So one might make the argument that the faithful are indeed better off... even if they are completely wrong. Afterall, they chase this "mirage" with delusional glee as I sit with the horrific realization that it isn't water at all. Sometimes I wish I were more gullible. Ignorance may very well be bliss.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
SORRY, THIS IS YOUR ONLY LIFE,
By
This review is from: The Illusion of Immortality (Paperback)
Corliss Lamont
The Illusion of Immortality (New York: Philosophical Library, 1959) 303 pages A philosopher examines the history of belief in life after death, the religious traditions that include various forms of after-life, the arguments for and against all such beliefs, and ultimately concludes that there is no life beyond the grave. A well-reasoned and well-written book, easy to read and understand. Lamont draws on science and reason to refute the beliefs in immortality. This book affirms life, despite the fact that our lives must end. If you would like to read other reviews of books on life after death, search the Internet for the following exact expression: "IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH? THE BEST BOOKS". James Leonard Park, skeptic.
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