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Controlling death: philosophical thanatology meets pragmatism

Abstract This essay examines philosophically the tension between controlling death and giving up or surrendering control. It can be argued that human mortality is the ultimate challenge to our attempts to maintain control over our lives. It is suggested that we may fruitfully respond to – while never fully resolving – this issue by integrating the approaches of transcendental philosophy and pragmatism. Some pragmatist thinkers (William James, Richard Shusterman and John Lachs) are briefly critically discussed in this context.