Too much reading today. Anyway.
So when I was talking to GMU people this weekend someone brought up blogs and commented that while they don't read blogs, they probably wouldn't mind reading mine because I probably talk about philosophy and such instead of just going on about my life. I was somewhat flattered, but as anyone who follows any of my journals knows, this is not the case. I somewhat disagree with the GMU person (Aileen maybe?) in that personal blogs and nifty and a good one of keeping in touch. However, to make sure I am not recieving undue credit as a philosopher:
We'll save my ongoing crusade against objective morals for another day in favor of what I'm reading right now: Is death bad?
In a philosophical discussion I have to insist on taking religion out of the equation because it's a factor that messes with everything else. I, myself, am a reincarnationist and therefore don't particularly see death the same way as most people. But let's go from the basic definition of death as just the state after which you are no longer living, ie, you cease to exist. I haven't read too much into it at this point but as far as I can tell there are two views that are credited to Epicurus and Nagel.
Epicurus says no, death isn't bad. After all, you're dead, so how can anything harm you. Nothing evil or bad can effect you because you are not there to be effected. Even such things as betrayal and slander mean nothing because you are not there to be injured in such ways.
Oh no, says Nagel, but there is harm! After all, life is full of joy and good. When someone kills us, they take away all future possibility of good. Therefore, we should fear death as the termination of good, which therefore makes it bad.
I haven't thought about this enough yet, but as in most cases I'm leaning towards disagreement of Nagel. He seems to view life as a kind of big romantic relationship. Anyone else dealt with that? You break up and even if it was for the best you're left thinking, "Well shit, she was teaching me photography. And I never got to take her to the beach." etc etc. Unfinished projects and possile joys. But being killed isn't like being broken up with (unless the X kills you, must watch your back). During the relationship you don't worry about suddenly being dumped and having the beach plans ruined, it's something you suffer afterwards. But as those fancy Greeks say, if you're not there, you don't suffer. So there's no reason spending your relationship with existance worried about the breakup when you know you won't have to suffer for it afterwards.
So when I was talking to GMU people this weekend someone brought up blogs and commented that while they don't read blogs, they probably wouldn't mind reading mine because I probably talk about philosophy and such instead of just going on about my life. I was somewhat flattered, but as anyone who follows any of my journals knows, this is not the case. I somewhat disagree with the GMU person (Aileen maybe?) in that personal blogs and nifty and a good one of keeping in touch. However, to make sure I am not recieving undue credit as a philosopher:
We'll save my ongoing crusade against objective morals for another day in favor of what I'm reading right now: Is death bad?
In a philosophical discussion I have to insist on taking religion out of the equation because it's a factor that messes with everything else. I, myself, am a reincarnationist and therefore don't particularly see death the same way as most people. But let's go from the basic definition of death as just the state after which you are no longer living, ie, you cease to exist. I haven't read too much into it at this point but as far as I can tell there are two views that are credited to Epicurus and Nagel.
Epicurus says no, death isn't bad. After all, you're dead, so how can anything harm you. Nothing evil or bad can effect you because you are not there to be effected. Even such things as betrayal and slander mean nothing because you are not there to be injured in such ways.
Oh no, says Nagel, but there is harm! After all, life is full of joy and good. When someone kills us, they take away all future possibility of good. Therefore, we should fear death as the termination of good, which therefore makes it bad.
I haven't thought about this enough yet, but as in most cases I'm leaning towards disagreement of Nagel. He seems to view life as a kind of big romantic relationship. Anyone else dealt with that? You break up and even if it was for the best you're left thinking, "Well shit, she was teaching me photography. And I never got to take her to the beach." etc etc. Unfinished projects and possile joys. But being killed isn't like being broken up with (unless the X kills you, must watch your back). During the relationship you don't worry about suddenly being dumped and having the beach plans ruined, it's something you suffer afterwards. But as those fancy Greeks say, if you're not there, you don't suffer. So there's no reason spending your relationship with existance worried about the breakup when you know you won't have to suffer for it afterwards.