Philosophy Café:

The Philosophy Café is an open exchange of philosophical ideas led by a University of Regina Philosophy Professor or a Graduate Student that runs each Fall and Winter semester. The Philosophy Café is free and open to the general public and all are welcome to attend. “Should We Keep Deathbed Promises” by: Dr. Eldon Soifer, Professor in the Philosophy and Classics Dept. Suppose you make a promise to somebody when that person is on his/her deathbed, but then afterwards you realize there are a whole bunch of reasons you hadn’t thought of for not doing what you’d promised. Do you have to keep the promise anyway? If so, why? One common way of thinking about this involves the idea that you would somehow be harming the person you had made the promise to if you don’t keep it-but if that person is dead, can s/he really be harmed? This discussion will explore a number of such puzzles that arise surrounding promises that have been made to people who are now dead.

More information at: http://www.uregina.ca/events/philosophy-caf-should-we-keep-deathbed-promises-by-dr-eldon-soifer