The ambiguity regarding a precise definition of death is a testament to man''s perceptive struggle with the phenomenon
of death. While it is clear enough that people die when their lives end, but less clear what constitutes the ending of a person''s life. Hence, much of the definitional predicament regarding death has to do with the absence of an unequivocal explication of life itself. Death can also be seen as a threshold concept, as in a substantial extinction of life must occur before death takes place. The ''ending of life'' or ''death'' can refer to this entire process or solely to the last part, which is the loss of the very last trace of life.
This paper aims to develop an understanding of the philosophy of death and the morality and ethics of death within the context of abortion,
euthanasia and suicide. The existence of a human being as one possessing psychological abilities of self consciousness, rationality and autonomy will be treated as the basis for a critical examination of the fundamental issues pertaining to abortion and euthanasia. Suicide eludes easy explanation due to the inability to directly occupy the mental world of the suicidal; hence fathoming this enigmatic phenomenon requires an understanding of the various sociological and
anthropological factors related to it.
Finally, this paper focuses on the ambivalent role of technology vis-a-vis death, where on the one hand, technological innovation and subsequent medical advancements have delayed death while on the other hand, technology has aided mass destruction and genocide.