Fearing Death

Do we spend too much time worrying about the inevitable? If we free ourselves of the fear of death could we live a more fulfilling life? Your thoughts.

 

I live each day to the best of my ability and never think of death. Life is too short to think of it.

 

Interesting topic. I am so fearful of death. I wish I wasn't.

 

I don´t think so much about death.
But I had a moment where I was scared to death and totaly paniced.
I had to get an emergency surgery because of a tube preagnancy.
They gave me a pill to calm me down, but the pill did not work, or the time was to short. I don´t know. The only thing I knew, when I make the decision not to get this surgery I will die 100 %.
In the room where they made me ready for getting the anesthesia stuff, I started totaly panicing.
I was loosing my baby and nothing could make it it reverse, because trying to keep it would kill me and the baby. And I was totaly scared of the surgery. Giving in into the anesthesia, I was crying for my mother and i was totaly scared. I was scared that I would die while the surgery and I was scared to die when I don´t get the surgery.
Before that, I did not know, how much I wanted to live, no matter how bad my live was back then.

 

To the minds of many, death represents the most unenviable status of human existence, its termination. One's death, however, is ultimately as meaningless as one's existence. Although we infuse life with various mythologies to try to give it some special meaning, there is nothing inherently meaningful about any of it. That meaning has to be made and upon doing so, life offers an exuberance that will cause one to shrug at death.

You shouldn't fear death, only resent it in light of a mediocre existence.

 

Death is just a waypoint in life. We are navigating towards it during our physical lives. Once we reach that waypoint, we will change our heading and be on to the next, in this navigation of existence.

 

Dont fear death one bit - I fear the WAY I might die

Joking aside, I dont spend a lick of time thinking about that.
When your number is up, its up... no reason to waste energy on that.
I just tell all loved ones that you love them, each and every day. and live each day as it might be my last (at least most of the time. yeehhhaaawwwwww.....

 

What a depressing answer.

I would certainly hope there is more meaning to life than what you say. Otherwise, what's the point of being here? What's the point of procreating to carry on humanity? What's the point of working and making money? What's the point of any of it?

There has to be some reason we're here. There has to be some reason why this planet exists, why this planet sustains this type of life, why we have evolved to who we are today.....I refuse to believe that this is all meaningless.

 

I completely agree.

This isn't one big coincidence that just happened.

Once again, well said.

I'm looking forward to the next phase.

 

There is no inherent point to any of it. We're just a bunch of mammals who got lucky and developed the mental faculties to ponder such things.

Before humans began to think abstractly, our lives were that of practical beasts that had no greater concerns than eating, sleeping, and procreating. Birth, life, reproduction, and death; that's all there was for hundreds of thousands of years.

All of the metaphysical assumptions about humanity that are attached to contemporary narratives are just interpretations that have no real property in the universe.

"When I die I am going to Heaven", is not a principle that exists separately from the human mind. Other than a thought or sonic utterance, it doesn't mean anything, and to me is just an excuse to avoid facing difficult questions about human existence.

I shouldn't have to answer your questions about working and making money, as both are totally meaningless. Most of us have to sell our labor in exchange for wages we use to purchase necessities and luxuries when we can. 10,000 years ago the formula was different, and 1,000 years from now the same truth will hold. At this juncture in human history, it's only a select few of us who find their work fulfilling or meaningful.

Life and death are inherently meaningless, but that doesn't mean it has to stay that way. Once a person takes on the challenge of addressing meaning in their lives, hopefully on their own terms, then life will produce actual purpose and the need for exuberance.

 

Very well put Saty!!!!
Its up to each individual to make it meaningful - no-one or nothing can make that for us.. whether you believe in a supreme being or not.
Make it count....

 

Why fear death?
It is entirely inevitable, unlike nearly every aspect of human life.
In the same way that any event or action can be thought of as good or bad, so too you choose to see death in the way you do.

If you cannot avoid something, and if it is just another part of life, and you have the ability to decide whatever feeling you have about it - why not look on the bright side?

Me - I feel nothing towards death. I won't know about it for very long, if at all, when it comes. I won't know about it after. I don't fear the way I die either, because everything is temporary.

Why the hell would I spend the time I am actually alive and able-bodied worrying about it?

Seems totally ridiculous to me.

And as for an inherently meaningless life - well, what better option could there be than to have the power to create entirely your own purpose? Seems like a blessing to me.

 

Bookie - why does there have to be a reason? You are making base assumptions about human existence, I would suspect, as result of enculturation in the western context. And you refuse because you believe. Your believing (and the reasons for it) disallow you to accept any other option. That doesn't mean that the universe isn't still indifferent to you.

What if the reason is simply that the "correct" concentrations of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen combined at the right instant 4 billion years ago to commence life? And, given that this is a "reason" without purpose...how do you reconcile that highly plausible scenario with your desire for meaning?

And, if there is a purpose, what is it? What is your purpose? Ask the next person you speak to and see what their purpose is. What if it is different to yours? Does that mean there is no innate purpose?

 

But of the millions of species that are on this planet now, and the ones that have come and gone and have lived on this planet for hundreds of millions of years, why are we the only ones to have developed the mental faculties to ponder such things? Luck? Why haven't other species developed this "luck"?

When do you think humans began thinking abstractly? Was it when they developed stone tools? Was it when they started walking bipedally? Was it when humans first contained fire? Was it when humans first started drawing on cave walls? Was it when the first record of an intentional human burial took place? Or when humans first started to domesticate animals? Or was it when we developed civilizations?

Because those did not happen all at the same time.

I don't think that's a contemporary issue. We've been improving our lives for millions of years. If we weren't thinking abstractly back then, then why would we have been working towards bettering our existence?

This is a rather "recent" development, the thought of a heaven and hell. However, humans have intentionally been burying their dead for tens of thousands of years.

Those were just random questions I posed based on the fact that I didn't feel like typing deeper ones. LOL. But, I've got a million of 'em.

I completely agree.

 

I wouldnt mind to die, but the only thing why i dont wanna die yet is because i want to do something very good and important while i'm alive. I didnt really do anything by now, so its not time for me to die, but i really dont mind though.

 

Why does there not have to be a reason?

You have no idea what I'm basing my assumptions on.

You say that as if it's a bad thing.

Without culture we wouldn't have poetry, music, art, books, architecture, sculptures, medicine, pets, shelter, friends, human interactions, etc.

Without culture, there would be no reason to ever leave our houses or to even have houses.

When did I say I don't allow other options? I was merely disagreeing with Saty's assertion that life is entirely meaningless. Because I disagree with it does not mean that I cannot believe that other ideas are out there.

What makes you so sure?

How can you be so sure that this is a reason without purpose? Because you say it is? Or because some philosopher said it's so, so therefore it must be?

If it's that plausible, why haven't all the planets in our solar system developed similar scenarios? Because our planet is at just the right distance from the sun to sustain our carbon-based, oxygen breathing life forms?

Then why have so many species never evolved? Yet we have. Why? Why didn't we remain static? Why did we find ways to improve our existence? Why hasn't the raccoon taken a stand against eating out of the garbage? Because it doesn't know any better? But doesn't that raccoon still have a purpose? Doesn't the vulture still have a purpose for being here? Don't trees and grasses and plants have a purpose for being here?

That's a question for the ages.

I haven't found mine yet. What's yours?

I would certainly hope that their purpose isn't exactly like mine. We are all individuals and unique in our own way.

Plants and animals have an innate purpose for being here. Why not us?

Why do we seek out other humans? We interact with each other on a daily basis. We seek out others for basic human needs like companionship, sex, friendship, enjoying what life has to offer.

Isn't there purpose in everything we do? If we stop and smell a flower, aren't we finding purpose for that flower? If we go to an art museum and enjoy the various works of art that humans have created, are we not finding meaning in those works of art?

If we find enjoyment in anything, are we not finding some sort of purpose or meaning for doing those things?

We invented things like cars and airplanes, that allow us to traverse the globe rather quickly so that we can experience other ways of life....things that we can't experience where we live. No other animal on the planet can do that.

We are unique in that ability. Why? Why have we developed the ability to change our surroundings in that way? Why are we constantly striving to improve our existence if not for a reason and purpose?

 

Bookie..I wasn't attacking your previous post - really just asking general questions about it all. My overarching opinion is that it is near impossible to prove anything and, therefore, mostly everything is based on belief. It's all just discussion. I'm not sure whether my last post seemed overly harsh and I was on the way to being drunk when I wrote it.

There doesn't have to or not have to be a reason. That's the point. Can't prove it either way. Perhaps there is a reason, but the fact that we can debate this proves only that it's not evidently clear.

True. I was making assumptions.

No. Culture is neither good nor bad. It just is what it is. But to debate metaphysical questions, I firmly believe it is important to remove cultural bias as much as is possible.

you say that as if it's a bad thing
These things only have value from a cultural perspective...and you don't know what you don't have.

True.

I'm not sure. I never said I was sure...Just asking the question. Once again - we can't prove it either way.

I'm not certain. But I believe that there doesn't necessarily have to be a reason. Equally, the apparent randomness by which life on earth started may very well be for a reason. But who/what's?

When deciding questions of the universe I consult with no-one as the answer is only relevant to me. Greater minds than mine have considered these questions, however this doesn't mean their outcomes are any more valid or correct than mine or anyone else's.

Plausible does not equate with probable.
My reference to "highly plausible" was that the spark of life on earth was a random anomaly in chemistry without purpose.
My understanding of Darwin's theory of evolution is that every species is constantly evolving. The ability to perceive and reason is a trait that humans have developed. It's perhaps not true that this should or could be thought of as superior to the traits other animals have developed. I sure would like to be able to fly.

Perhaps the physical nature of the universe being as it is requires that a system, such as earth, have everything just as it is? The interconnectedness of our planet's systems is something I don't think we can debate. Perhaps it has evolved in this way, and to this point, because it simply must do so due to the laws of physics? Life simply must be and will evolve to preserve some type of equilibrium?

Yes - but relevant to this discussion, I think. Or, even the point of it.

To live true to myself, be happy and fulfill my desires. My desires being the actions I undertake to assist in being happy. This purpose shall exist until my formal and informal education renders it superseded.

But, to my mind, if we're looking at purpose for the human race, the earth and even the universe, then there must be a larger purpose which is applicable to all.

What is their innate purpose?

Yes, there is purpose for a lot of things we do, because we create the purpose within ourselves. That doesn't mean that we are here for a purpose or that we must have purpose.

Why anything is the way it is? Doesn't really matter. The point is that it is this way and I'm going to enjoy it, fulfilling my purpose of being happy and to die with a satisfied soul and full heart.

 

I agree in life being meaningless. It is one meaningless drama that is filled with torture, anguish and heart-wrenching trauma.

 

It's all good FEHG. I don't have time to reply to your post right now. But, I'm not taking offense to what you or anyone else says.

These kinds of conversations are what I love. I seek these conversations out, when given the opportunity, because I love hearing other peoples' opinions, I love the exchange of ideas that these types of conversations offer. It's something I thrive on.

No harm, no foul. :smt023

I'll be back, probably after I've been drinking,to reply to your post. LOL.

Too bad we all can't be in the same room talking. That would be awesome.

 

Ditto to all above. Just wanted to check all's cool. Damned forum can make discussion difficult without facial expression and tone of voice.

I look forward to your response.