Abstract

One of the most important concerns of human beings is the problem of fear of death. Thinkers from different circles have put forward theories for treatment of this fear. On the basis of philosophical thinking fear of death has its roots in humans outlook toward the truth of death. For this reason in order to remove this fear one should correct his or her attitude towards death. Death as a necessary and undeniable reality has been the subject of study and analysis by different schools of philosophy and each of these schools on the basis of its understanding of human nature has its own specific judgement about this important concept. Material thinking regards all human existence limited to the body and considers death as nothingness and a final end to life. Therefore in this school fear of death is equal to destruction and annihilation. But in divine thinking the reality of man is an transcendental and spiritual truth other than his bodily form and body is a instrument for it. According to this group, death is only a severing of relation between body and spirit, and Consequently fear of death is the result of our ignorance towards this truth. Ibn sina and Mulla Sadra, on the basis of their philosophical thinking, confirm the second theory, although each along with his own philosophy propounds several factors for this fear. But both in the end proclaim that the major cause of the fear of death is man''s ignorance of the reality of death and the events after it.