It is final exam period and I am TOTALLY behind all papers that are due in a couple of weeks and I haven't even BEGUN studying for the finals which are in a couple of weeks as well. Anyhow, I am writing tonight on Lucretius and why we must not fear death.. It's actually quite simple: there is nothing after death and therefore since we cease to exist as we exist today we will be in no position to think or worry once we are dead. Therefore it is unreasonable to worry about dying given that once you are dead you will not be capable of thinking about your situation. Why worry about something now that will not worry you later on?
Personally I say that this is all quite rational and good - but - I'd like to add as Socrates said in the Apology that maybe there is something after death and what it ultimately comes down to is the fact that we shouldn't be oppressed about something we just don't know. What's the point of fearing the unknown? It's like fear of fear.
Philosophy and latin literature aside, I would like to flatter myself with the belief that there definitely is something. I am too egoistic to admit my possible future non-existence. And yes it DOES oppress me that I might not exist anymore because I NEVER want to cease thinking. I am very selfish, I know. I can't help it, it's like my personal drug.
I could go on and on about these discussions, about death, about love, about morality, about this and that, but how could I ever conclude something? I am no Hegel or Marx capable of giving definite answers and convincing myself that I am a messiah who will bring the truth to everyone or at least those that are capable of understanding.
----> Which actually brings me to a fundamental question that I've been dealing with these days: What do you do when you realize that you are somewhat more immoral than others - and - if you realize that you are more immoral than others doesn't that make you somewhat more conscious than others as well about morality? - and - by what parameters can we judge morality anyways? Is there a universal standard of right and wrong? Hm..... milleniums and no one can give an answer. What's wrong with humanity? Why are we so disconnected at times?
Personally I say that this is all quite rational and good - but - I'd like to add as Socrates said in the Apology that maybe there is something after death and what it ultimately comes down to is the fact that we shouldn't be oppressed about something we just don't know. What's the point of fearing the unknown? It's like fear of fear.
Philosophy and latin literature aside, I would like to flatter myself with the belief that there definitely is something. I am too egoistic to admit my possible future non-existence. And yes it DOES oppress me that I might not exist anymore because I NEVER want to cease thinking. I am very selfish, I know. I can't help it, it's like my personal drug.
I could go on and on about these discussions, about death, about love, about morality, about this and that, but how could I ever conclude something? I am no Hegel or Marx capable of giving definite answers and convincing myself that I am a messiah who will bring the truth to everyone or at least those that are capable of understanding.
----> Which actually brings me to a fundamental question that I've been dealing with these days: What do you do when you realize that you are somewhat more immoral than others - and - if you realize that you are more immoral than others doesn't that make you somewhat more conscious than others as well about morality? - and - by what parameters can we judge morality anyways? Is there a universal standard of right and wrong? Hm..... milleniums and no one can give an answer. What's wrong with humanity? Why are we so disconnected at times?
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Reason may be a tool, but as it would seem to be incapable of providing answers for life itself, how can we call upon it to give us answers regarding the extinction of life? You might as well attempt to catch fish by striking them with a hammer. I have a saying that "where courage is lacking ignorance will suffice." It would seem that courage, or even spite, would be just as good a posture to face death and the diminishing of our faculties as cultivated ignorance or detachment.
And as you so sharply noted, it isn't necessarily fear of the unknown but attachment to life that causes anxiety in most people. That is related to but not the same as fear of death or the unknown. For myself, I only hope that the "little death" is a fair approximation of the reality.
As for morality, it is such a pain in the ass to explain oneself isn't it? And why should we have to? Don't we understand those unlike ourselves. It would be nice if they acepted such a burden. But until that time, I hope you have a mask you can breathe through.
What is it's status in reality? Depending on who you talk to it was imagination, my subconcious giving me a break from my concious mind, my essential self opening up for a moment, or a complete delusion.
The only partcularly lasting thing from it is that I seem to be more alert overall. Not in an extreme way, I'm not hearing the flowers singing or anything (although that would be nice).
Best of luck with your papers and such. I kind of miss that exhaustion that comes from sitting and typing against the clock and without sleep. There was always a determined pride that kept me going.