My english lit. teacher told me about a philosopher who had a grandfather clock made for him. Instead of the clock ringing or making a bell-like sound, it spoke out, "___hours and ___minutes closer to death." My teacher doesn't know the time which this philosopher lived, or even has a clue about who he was. Anyone happen to have an idea? I've tried researching it but I can't find any info about it.

Death clock? Think I saw it on futurama.

Actually, what you are describing sounds like a fairy tale. Read some Plato, the father of western thought, and then reconsider your views concerning philosophy.

Yeah I doubt my teacher is having me search for a fairy tale. And my views on philosophy had nothing to do with this question. I simply thought someone maybe had an idea of what I was talking about.

Could this be in anyway related to what you mention?

Grandfather Clock