"Life is a dead end street." H.L Mencken, writer and satirist.
"I'm not afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens!" Woody Allen, comedian.
"As men we are all equal in death." Publilius Syrus, one time Syrian slave of Romans turned writer.
Death is subject we generally like to keep on the periphery of our thoughts because plain and simple it's just easier that way. Although in life there may be times we have brushes with death be it in a car accident or through friends and loved ones suffering we generally like to think 'death' is something far off. Yet from the cradle onwards death is something we draw inexorably closer too, none can escape it and eventually it consumes us all with its unknowing darkness. It encompasses all, in essence we just vanish. As we get older it has more of an ongoing significance to us but the fact is death negates every single aspect of our lives eventually.
I'm not sure if other animals have knowledge of death but trapped animals usually lash out and strive for life or some sit apathetically and wait for it's onset. Humans however do have that ongoing knowledge of death, it's all around us from family to movies, to media.
You might be sat there feeling uncomfortably at reading the grim words above but the single fact we all have in common is that we all die at some point, we just cannot escape it, the book finally closes. When friends or loved ones die we can open their 'life' book and reflect on their life and exploits, we can remember them in our own unique way. When we die we can reflect on nothing, consciousness ends.
Death of course affects us differently. I was talking to a homeless guy today who said he'd had a good early life but since both parents had died he'd gone down hill and into drugs. There was a silence and then he added he may have ended up doing drugs anyway but his parents death had perhaps hastened the process as he'd found it hard to cope. My thoughts on this were that he needed the escapism to avoid dwelling on the reality that was death (amongst other things).
My own personal experiences of death have been consenting to my mothers life support machine being switched off when doctors told me they were unable to save her from brain damage. I sat and watched her die, I literally saw death happen before me. In some ways it gave me a few moments to come to terms with it better, rather than it being sudden and shocking news.
I spoke to my gran the other week who is in her late 80s. I broached the subject of death and she openly said she was ready to die with no fear it as she was tired of life, seemingly its all become an exercise in futility for her as old age slowly robs us of our faculties.
In some instances when we are aware of the onset of death of say a loved one we can take steps to make things easier, we can plan, we can say goodbyes, tell them we loved them or even say things that have remained unsaid for years but needed to be said. The cruel reality is though death robs us of loved ones without remorse. Though in my own opinion it is far better to be prepared for it than it be sudden in some respects. Then of course this brings me to the counter argument of do people on death row welcome the thought of knowing when they are going to die? This brings me to my earlier point of death is something we like to push into the distance because in comparison saying 'I may die in 40 years' against someone on death row saying 'I am going to die in 40 days' is far, far easier to swallow.
We all cope with death differently. Many of course turn to faith and religion. All religions of course handle the subject differently or in different stages. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and that a 'you' survives each death into another temporal life which is judged on your previous life's karma. Christianity, Islam and Judaism state you only have one temporal life and earthly life is a test for the after life. Though I am not religious the buddhist thoughts on life, karma and death fascinate me as you can over several lives refine your karma or not as the case may be. On the plus side you could reach 'nirvana' but is a perfect you the end of things anyway? That you have stepped off what buddhists call the 'wheel of samsara' and have reached a perfect peace? because surely that being the case there is nothing more to reincarnate. That said I'm no expert on that religion, or any other because I prefer not to entwine myself spiritually and believe. I am however always eager to learn history and facts or the lack of them in some cases I say with a sardonic smile.
The philosopher Heidegger stated that firstly death is the end of us and our experience, secondly that death is not an end goal - it is simply stoppage. Thirdly that death is inevitable and uncertain and finally the previous three points make us wonder if there is any meaning to our life.
The Greek philosopher Epicurus once wrote that "Death is nothing to us, for what has been dissolved has no sense and experience - and what has no sense and experience is nothing to us."
These days the term 'Epicurean' is all about seeking pleasure, the reality though is that Epicurus said that people should actually try and avoid pain, he wasn't some 24/7 party person! Epicurus basically said instead of desire people should seek friends, warmth and food. When we have this then we become at peace for these are the things of a good life and to be honest he has a good point, except we know there is more to life than the above. Another good point Epicurus touches on about death though is that to be without experience (see above quote) is to be without suffering.
A fruit will ripen and produce seed and then die, humans and animals are the same. We mature, we mate and try to ensure we prevail - it's the passage of nature. When a person dies we carry fragments of their lives within our own, it makes us glow and feel good when we reflect it again makes us feel intimate with them even though they are not there. Going back to Heidegger a moment, he says that people often live their lives with a certain denial of death. That isn't to say people don't dwell on it but if we do dwell on it then that can be seen as trying to control it. I'm sure people into extreme pursuits such as mountain climbing or deep sea diving, or even astronauts think about death and despite obvious risks they take their thoughts will give them some degree of control over how they feel about it.
Going back to religion though, which is totally man made at least if gives some a comfort blanket surrounding the subject of death and offers the chance of an afterlife. My view on the afterlife is pretty much inspired by some of the great philosophers and contemporaries like Hitchens, Russell and Dawkins et al. As Hitchens states that imagine from the moment you are born till the moment you die you are scrutinized totally by god, then you pass all the tests and go to heaven and are watched all over again - it would be like living in some kind of celestial North Korea. Seriously who would want that? To me it is gross folly and ignorance to let religion govern your life and dictate how it should be lived. To be immortal would more scary than knowing you are going to die. Imaginary celestial cities falling into disrepair as the workers could simply do the job tomorrow or the next day. After we'd met back up with loved ones and family and in some cases realised why we didn't like them in the first place, what then? An eternity of doing not that much and plenty of time to do it in, so things eventually become of little relevance. The philosopher Nietzsche criticises religion on the valid point it attempts to denigrate our real world in favour of a superior fantasy transcendent one. I certainly won't spend my life telling a god that is only a belief how good he actually is just to get a ticket to an afterlife. For me there is something oddly comforting knowing that life actually has to end and this thought gives my life more purpose in the present.
Lets draw on some practical positives about death. The main thing at the end of our days to make us more content is to know that our life has had some significance. To some this is almost definitely having children and watching them grow. To others it may be writing a book, painting or writing songs. As humans we are capable of doing many things that we can pass on into the memories of others, to me that gives meaning to our being. Life is to be embraced whilst we have the chance and before we get too old. We can do many things in our life to benefit others just through being human and exhibiting human compassion.
In closing I relate death to having an anaesthetic at a hospital. You are shrouded in darkness but you are at peace, free from pain and suffering in a serene void. If death is similar then I do not fear death itself, I just hope the dying isn't painful! At the end of the day there's no point fearing death because we can't do anything about it.
"I'm not afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens!" Woody Allen, comedian.
"As men we are all equal in death." Publilius Syrus, one time Syrian slave of Romans turned writer.
Death is subject we generally like to keep on the periphery of our thoughts because plain and simple it's just easier that way. Although in life there may be times we have brushes with death be it in a car accident or through friends and loved ones suffering we generally like to think 'death' is something far off. Yet from the cradle onwards death is something we draw inexorably closer too, none can escape it and eventually it consumes us all with its unknowing darkness. It encompasses all, in essence we just vanish. As we get older it has more of an ongoing significance to us but the fact is death negates every single aspect of our lives eventually.
I'm not sure if other animals have knowledge of death but trapped animals usually lash out and strive for life or some sit apathetically and wait for it's onset. Humans however do have that ongoing knowledge of death, it's all around us from family to movies, to media.
You might be sat there feeling uncomfortably at reading the grim words above but the single fact we all have in common is that we all die at some point, we just cannot escape it, the book finally closes. When friends or loved ones die we can open their 'life' book and reflect on their life and exploits, we can remember them in our own unique way. When we die we can reflect on nothing, consciousness ends.
Death of course affects us differently. I was talking to a homeless guy today who said he'd had a good early life but since both parents had died he'd gone down hill and into drugs. There was a silence and then he added he may have ended up doing drugs anyway but his parents death had perhaps hastened the process as he'd found it hard to cope. My thoughts on this were that he needed the escapism to avoid dwelling on the reality that was death (amongst other things).
My own personal experiences of death have been consenting to my mothers life support machine being switched off when doctors told me they were unable to save her from brain damage. I sat and watched her die, I literally saw death happen before me. In some ways it gave me a few moments to come to terms with it better, rather than it being sudden and shocking news.
I spoke to my gran the other week who is in her late 80s. I broached the subject of death and she openly said she was ready to die with no fear it as she was tired of life, seemingly its all become an exercise in futility for her as old age slowly robs us of our faculties.
In some instances when we are aware of the onset of death of say a loved one we can take steps to make things easier, we can plan, we can say goodbyes, tell them we loved them or even say things that have remained unsaid for years but needed to be said. The cruel reality is though death robs us of loved ones without remorse. Though in my own opinion it is far better to be prepared for it than it be sudden in some respects. Then of course this brings me to the counter argument of do people on death row welcome the thought of knowing when they are going to die? This brings me to my earlier point of death is something we like to push into the distance because in comparison saying 'I may die in 40 years' against someone on death row saying 'I am going to die in 40 days' is far, far easier to swallow.
We all cope with death differently. Many of course turn to faith and religion. All religions of course handle the subject differently or in different stages. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and that a 'you' survives each death into another temporal life which is judged on your previous life's karma. Christianity, Islam and Judaism state you only have one temporal life and earthly life is a test for the after life. Though I am not religious the buddhist thoughts on life, karma and death fascinate me as you can over several lives refine your karma or not as the case may be. On the plus side you could reach 'nirvana' but is a perfect you the end of things anyway? That you have stepped off what buddhists call the 'wheel of samsara' and have reached a perfect peace? because surely that being the case there is nothing more to reincarnate. That said I'm no expert on that religion, or any other because I prefer not to entwine myself spiritually and believe. I am however always eager to learn history and facts or the lack of them in some cases I say with a sardonic smile.
The philosopher Heidegger stated that firstly death is the end of us and our experience, secondly that death is not an end goal - it is simply stoppage. Thirdly that death is inevitable and uncertain and finally the previous three points make us wonder if there is any meaning to our life.
The Greek philosopher Epicurus once wrote that "Death is nothing to us, for what has been dissolved has no sense and experience - and what has no sense and experience is nothing to us."
These days the term 'Epicurean' is all about seeking pleasure, the reality though is that Epicurus said that people should actually try and avoid pain, he wasn't some 24/7 party person! Epicurus basically said instead of desire people should seek friends, warmth and food. When we have this then we become at peace for these are the things of a good life and to be honest he has a good point, except we know there is more to life than the above. Another good point Epicurus touches on about death though is that to be without experience (see above quote) is to be without suffering.
A fruit will ripen and produce seed and then die, humans and animals are the same. We mature, we mate and try to ensure we prevail - it's the passage of nature. When a person dies we carry fragments of their lives within our own, it makes us glow and feel good when we reflect it again makes us feel intimate with them even though they are not there. Going back to Heidegger a moment, he says that people often live their lives with a certain denial of death. That isn't to say people don't dwell on it but if we do dwell on it then that can be seen as trying to control it. I'm sure people into extreme pursuits such as mountain climbing or deep sea diving, or even astronauts think about death and despite obvious risks they take their thoughts will give them some degree of control over how they feel about it.
Going back to religion though, which is totally man made at least if gives some a comfort blanket surrounding the subject of death and offers the chance of an afterlife. My view on the afterlife is pretty much inspired by some of the great philosophers and contemporaries like Hitchens, Russell and Dawkins et al. As Hitchens states that imagine from the moment you are born till the moment you die you are scrutinized totally by god, then you pass all the tests and go to heaven and are watched all over again - it would be like living in some kind of celestial North Korea. Seriously who would want that? To me it is gross folly and ignorance to let religion govern your life and dictate how it should be lived. To be immortal would more scary than knowing you are going to die. Imaginary celestial cities falling into disrepair as the workers could simply do the job tomorrow or the next day. After we'd met back up with loved ones and family and in some cases realised why we didn't like them in the first place, what then? An eternity of doing not that much and plenty of time to do it in, so things eventually become of little relevance. The philosopher Nietzsche criticises religion on the valid point it attempts to denigrate our real world in favour of a superior fantasy transcendent one. I certainly won't spend my life telling a god that is only a belief how good he actually is just to get a ticket to an afterlife. For me there is something oddly comforting knowing that life actually has to end and this thought gives my life more purpose in the present.
Lets draw on some practical positives about death. The main thing at the end of our days to make us more content is to know that our life has had some significance. To some this is almost definitely having children and watching them grow. To others it may be writing a book, painting or writing songs. As humans we are capable of doing many things that we can pass on into the memories of others, to me that gives meaning to our being. Life is to be embraced whilst we have the chance and before we get too old. We can do many things in our life to benefit others just through being human and exhibiting human compassion.
In closing I relate death to having an anaesthetic at a hospital. You are shrouded in darkness but you are at peace, free from pain and suffering in a serene void. If death is similar then I do not fear death itself, I just hope the dying isn't painful! At the end of the day there's no point fearing death because we can't do anything about it.
1 comment:
"friends, warmth and food. [...] except we know there is more to life than the above"
What more is there to life ? Apart from reproduction, which becomes a little bit pointless when you're already part of an overpopulating specie, I don't see. Is everything else not just filling up ?
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