Death Isn't Just About You | Lydia Dugdale (Columbia) at Harvard

The Art of Dying

In this section, the speaker discusses the development of literature on preparing for death and how it emerged from the Bubonic plague outbreak in the mid-1300s.

The Emergence of Literature on Preparing for Death

• The genre of literature on preparing for death developed after the Bubonic plague outbreak in the mid-1300s.

• Historians estimate that between one-third and two-thirds of the population died during this outbreak.

• Survivors were concerned about their loved ones who died not receiving proper burials and religious attendance, leading to a cry for help in preparing for death.

• The church was the dominant social authority at that time, and people turned to priests for help.

Modern Medicine's Approach to Death

• With modern medicine, doctors have outsourced difficult conversations about dying to sub-specialists in palliative care.

• Antibiotics made death optional, and hospitals keep death in the background.

• Living and dying are community activities, but people no longer see death as much as they used to.

Empowering Individuals and Communities

• The speaker is interested in "ours moriendi" as a model because it empowers individuals and communities to prepare for death together.

• Living with dying is always a community activity.