Attitudes to Death As a Scientific Problem

Abstract

The topic of attitudes to death is traditionally taboo in society but penetrates mass culture in the form of simulacra. The evolution of attitudes to death in the history of European civilization and in individual consciousness proceeding from the opinions of philosophers and theologians, as well as the results of empirical studies characterizing the attitude to death in mass consciousness, is shown. How popular is the belief in afterlife? Does religiosity have any effect on the fear of death? What are people afraid of when they think about death? Can one form a positive attitude to death? This article attempts to answer these questions.