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  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Biathanatos

Biathanatos

Hebel, J. William

Hardcover

PhilosophyLiterary CriticismGeneral Christianity

ISBN10: 1025757351
ISBN13: 9781025757353
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 250
Weight: 1.16
Height: 0.63 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Biathanatos is a provocative and complex treatise by the renowned metaphysical poet and cleric John Donne. In this daring work, Donne explores the controversial subject of self-homicide, challenging the absolute condemnation of the act by the Church and the law of his time. Written with the intellectual rigor and paradoxical wit characteristic of Donne's prose, the text argues that suicide is not inherently a sin against nature or a violation of divine law in every instance, suggesting instead that it may be justifiable under specific circumstances of charity or devotion.

This work stands as a landmark in the history of ideas, bridging the gap between medieval scholasticism and early modern skepticism. Donne's intricate legal and theological arguments provide deep insight into the moral anxieties of the seventeenth century and the evolving understanding of individual agency. As a foundational text for scholars of English literature and the history of ethics, Biathanatos reveals the profound philosophical depths of one of the most significant figures in the Anglican tradition. This edition offers a faithful representation of Donne's challenging discourse, making it an essential resource for those interested in the intersections of religion, philosophy, and literary history.

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