When you know you are going to die, it is a struggle *not* to be philosophical

[Gottservant]

Hi there,

So tell me what this means: if you know you are going to die, it is a struggle not to be philosophical, if you are a man.

Why are we convinced that philosophy buys us time?

What makes us think that if we just say the right thing, we might get off the hook?

Is it a weakness? Or is it a weakness in disguise?

Thanks.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Well, I personally think about death more than I should. Even though I would rather not

 

[Received]

Gottservant, are you having suicidal thoughts? Message me if needed.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Gottservant, are you having suicidal thoughts? Message me if needed.

Not sure, might be depressed, but I don't think suicidal.

 

[Gottservant]

I said philosophical, not suicidal.


...but thanks?

 

[PsychoSarah]

I said philosophical, not suicidal.


...but thanks?

Sorry, when people start talking about philosophically thinking about death, a lot of people jump the gun to the worst conclusions. I guess being really ignorant and just doing stuff to put your mind off death could make you not be very philosophical.

 

[Received]

You made a previous thread that had kind of dark tones to it (something about this being your last post), and then this one, and I'm a therapist, so...

 

[Eudaimonist]

So tell me what this means: if you know you are going to die, it is a struggle not to be philosophical, if you are a man.

It has been said that philosophy is training for death. Perhaps one needs a little preparation for when one is philosophical about death.

Why are we convinced that philosophy buys us time?

Philosophy doesn't buy us even a second of time. But it may cushion the blow.

What makes us think that if we just say the right thing, we might get off the hook?

I've never thought that. That sounds like a religious idea. When I was a young Catholic being taught by nuns, I was told that I should quickly apologize for all my sins just before I die, just in case. It was an odd suggestion. What if one were to die unexpectedly? But maybe the idea was intended to be comforting. I'm not sure.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Gottservant]

You made a previous thread that had kind of dark tones to it (something about this being your last post), and then this one, and I'm a therapist, so...

Yeah ok, but there are positive and negative ways of handling inevitability, you should know that.

 

[Gottservant]

Philosophy doesn't buy us even a second of time. But it may cushion the blow.

eudaimonia,

Mark

For some reason, I really liked that.

 

[Paradoxum]

Hi there,

So tell me what this means: if you know you are going to die, it is a struggle not to be philosophical, if you are a man.

Only if you're male?

Why are we convinced that philosophy buys us time?

What makes us think that if we just say the right thing, we might get off the hook?

Is it a weakness? Or is it a weakness in disguise?

Not everyone thinks that.

 

[Harbingr]

I think the most philosophical part of a man comes out in awaiting their death.
They arrange their purest thoughts before the end, so that they may die in settled conclusion.

It comes at some point for the condemned, but a lot sooner for martyrs who already conceive their conclusion well before.


This is why we give people on death row, for example, the right to state their final words without restraint and bury them where they wish.

 

[Gottservant]

Only if you're male?

If you're female its not a struggle, its strife.

Not everyone thinks that.

Ok well part of the point was to find out what people do think.

I mean is it any wonder that every bond villain waxes lyrical when he thinks he's caught bond for the last time?

 

[Gottservant]

I think the most philosophical part of a man comes out in awaiting their death.
They arrange their purest thoughts before the end, so that they may die in settled conclusion.

It comes at some point for the condemned, but a lot sooner for martyrs who already conceive their conclusion well before.


This is why we give people on death row, for example, the right to state their final words without restraint and bury them where they wish.

Solid points.

May your last words be remembered, more than your first. (selah)

 

[Paradoxum]

If you're female its not a struggle, its strife.

Oh, okay.

Ok well part of the point was to find out what people do think.

I mean is it any wonder that every bond villain waxes lyrical when he thinks he's caught bond for the last time?

Well, when I die, I think I'll just be non-existent. So there's nothing to change to have a better afterlife.

I might think philosophically, but it's not really to gain anything after death.

 

[znr]

People showed concern and asked if you're okay. I guess not directly answering those concerns and being vague is one way of waxing philosophical ...

Yeah ok, but there are positive and negative ways of handling inevitability, you should know that.

 

[Gottservant]

People showed concern and asked if you're okay. I guess not directly answering those concerns and being vague is one way of waxing philosophical ...

that's the point

 

[Received]

Yeah ok, but there are positive and negative ways of handling inevitability, you should know that.

I do, I'm just conditioned to prepare for the worst when people make consistently dark statements. Take it as a way of caring.

 

[Received]

As for death, Heidegger captured it all when he said that the physicality of death destroys us, but the idea of life saves us. Countless people with terminal illnesses have talked about how the illness has awoken them to really living; something about really grasping the end can either paralyze or motivate a person to stand for what's important in his life.

Except I don't think that's quite necessary. It's not so much that each life has an end, ergo we must live, but also (and more importantly) that each moment has an end, ergo we must live. Even if we lived forever, we're still faced with the endless number of tragedies of squandering the moment out of laziness, and really the moment is the only life we have. "Cowards die many times..."

 

[Eudaimonist]

It's not so much that each life has an end, ergo we must live, but also (and more importantly) that each moment has an end, ergo we must live. Even if we lived forever, we're still faced with the endless number of tragedies of squandering the moment out of laziness, and really the moment is the only life we have. "Cowards die many times..."

That's an interesting perspective. You may be right about that.


eudaimonia,

Mark