Patrick Vernon

Dying to Live and Living to Die: An Existential Paradox

The Dying to Live, Living to Die: An Existential Paradox online conference will bring together scholars, therapists, and cultural thinkers to examine death not simply as an end, but as a vital part of what gives life meaning. Hosted by the Existential Academy, the event invited participants to engage deeply with the emotional, philosophical, and societal dimensions of dying and what it means to truly live in its shadow.

About this event:

This conference invites a rigorous existential inquiry into the nature of death, not solely as an event marking the end of biological life, but as a central axis around which human meaning is constructed. From an existential perspective, death is not merely to be feared or denied; it is a fundamental condition that discloses the finitude of existence and the urgency of authentic living. Confronting death awakens individuals to their freedom, compelling them to assume responsibility for their choices in a world devoid of predetermined meaning. It is through this confrontation that one encounters the possibility of transformation, recognizing mortality as both a limit and a motivator in the pursuit of purposeful existence.

In addition to its existential framing, the conference will examine a broad spectrum of themes relating to death and dying. These include complex discussions on suicide and assisted dying, the psychological and philosophical implications of end-of-life care, and the enduring bonds that persist with the deceased. A particular focus will be placed on how the death of others shapes individual encounters with mortality. Furthermore, the programme will include anthropological perspectives on death rituals, as well as sociocultural analyses, with a specific lens on the Black community where historical trauma, systemic inequalities, and collective mourning intersect. Contributions will also explore how cultural narratives, and philosophical traditions inform our understanding of death and its meaning in the modern world.

Ultimately, this interdisciplinary gathering seeks not only to deepen theoretical understanding but to foster a more nuanced and critical engagement with mortality. By bridging existential philosophy with psychological, social, and cultural inquiry, the conference aims to illuminate the multifaceted ways death informs life. In doing so, it challenges participants to confront uncomfortable truths, reassess prevailing assumptions, and engage rigorously with one of the most fundamental dimensions of the human condition.

About this Keynote speakers:

Prof Emmy van Deurzen – Losing the Will to Live
Prof Emmy van Deurzen explores how growing global conflict and uncertainty can lead to despair and a loss of the will to live. Drawing from ancient wisdom and modern psychological research, her talk encourages a deeper reflection on our reasons for being, and offers existential tools to help individuals make sense of suffering and find renewed purpose in dark times.

Dr Robert A. Neimeyer – Meaning-Focused Grief Therapy
Dr Robert Neimeyer presents an innovative approach to grief as a meaning-making journey shaped by identity, attachment, and trauma. His talk introduces practical, research-based methods to help individuals reconstruct a sense of meaning, restore bonds with the deceased, and foster growth through the transformative experience of loss.

Dr Chloe Paidoussis Mitchell – Navigating Loss & Embracing Life
In this reflective workshop, Dr Chloe Paidoussis Mitchell invites participants to view grief not as a problem to fix, but as an existential process of transformation. Using insights from her book The Loss Prescription, she offers practical tools and compassionate guidance to support emotional resilience, self-compassion, and renewed meaning after loss.

Dr Robert Brodrick – Dying from Natural Causes: The Original and Still the Worst?
Dr Robert Brodrick reflects on the most common form of dying, allowing nature to take its course and questions whether this default path can offer meaning, even in suffering. With a focus on palliative care, he explores how we might improve the chances of a “good death” through awareness, preparation, and compassionate end-of-life care.

Prof Havi Carel – Should I Fear My Death? Epicurus vs Heidegger on Annihilation
Prof Havi Carel compares the ancient and modern philosophical views of death, contrasting Epicurus’s dismissal of its significance with Heidegger’s emphasis on its centrality to life. She argues for a nuanced view that sees death as one of many forms of human vulnerability, shaping how we live and understand our existence.

Dr Kelli Swazey – The Place of the Dead: Ritual, Memory, and Belonging in Southeast Asian Communities
Dr Kelli Swazey explores Southeast Asian perspectives on death, where rituals connect the living with the dead and community identity is deeply entwined with ancestral memory. Her talk highlights how these traditions frame death not as an end, but as a continuation of life and belonging across generations.

Andrew Copson – A Case of Choice, Not Dignity: Current Debates on Assisted Dying
Andrew Copson discusses the shifting landscape of assisted dying laws in the UK, arguing that personal choice rather than a narrowly defined concept of dignity should guide the debate. Representing Humanists UK, he challenges outdated assumptions and advocates for the right to die on one’s own terms.

Prof Patrick Vernon – Are We All Living a Social Death?
This presentation explores the enduring condition of social death through the intersecting lenses of Afro-Pessimism, existential psychotherapy, and the Rastafari-rooted concept of sufferation. Drawing on Orlando Patterson’s foundational theory and extended through thinkers like Frank Wilderson III, it examines how Black existence has been historically positioned as non-being excluded from full social, legal, and ontological recognition.

Sufferation, as expressed in the music and poetics of Bob Marley, Linton Kwesi Johnson, and others, names not only inherited trauma, but an indomitable will to resist. This cultural tradition made “the sufferers visible” in post-Windrush Britain, turning pain into public memory and political testimony.

Through the lens of existential therapy, the talk repositions therapy not as a tool of assimilation but as a space of witnessing, relational presence, and meaning-making. It calls on mental health practitioners to confront colonial structures within clinical practice and to stand with clients in their search for agency, authenticity, and existential freedom.

About the Existential Academy:

The Existential Academy, founded in 1996 by Professors Emmy van Deurzen and Digby Tantam, is a non-profit organisation committed to bringing philosophy to the heart of the community. With a strong foundation in existential and phenomenological philosophy, the Academy offers a wide range of courses and workshops grounded in both philosophy and psychology, aiming to help people reflect on life’s challenges and possibilities. Its motto, “bringing philosophy to the community,” is reflected in its two core hubs: the Community Hub, which provides accessible workshops and support services for individuals and families, and the Professional Hub, which offers existential training for aspiring psychotherapists as well as ongoing professional development for those in helping professions. Closely linked with the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling (NSPC) and Dilemma Consultancy, the Academy draws on a network of expert practitioners and educators to deliver high-quality learning that integrates deep philosophical inquiry with practical psychological insight, supporting both personal growth and professional practice.

Event Details:
October 31  – November 1
Online Conference
To book tickets, click: here