tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399217057737190875.post2829010270116079198..comments2009-10-24T21:57:52.723-03:00Comments on Working towards something that makes sense.: On matters of life and deathMyronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734754018546873245noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399217057737190875.post-89586876308072631652009-10-24T21:57:52.723-03:002009-10-24T21:57:52.723-03:00Also, I was afraid of dying at first, but then I u...Also, I was afraid of dying at first, but then I understood that even though I will die, what I do won't. History will go on, and my part in it will still be there, for as long as anything exists. I don't much like the "if we're honest" part, because it implies that anyone who doesn't scream in soul-searching terror at the thought of death is in denial, which I don't think is always the case. Sometimes, maybe, but often not.Myronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11734754018546873245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399217057737190875.post-21761332706340969882009-10-24T21:51:50.523-03:002009-10-24T21:51:50.523-03:00Hey Paladin. It's been a while, but I think I&...Hey Paladin. It's been a while, but I think I'm going to try to get back into blogging, in a very limited way, and you ask good questions, so let's see if I can answer.<br /><br />1. Why are we afraid of death?<br /><br />My answer: Because those who weren't really afraid of death were more likely to die before reproducing. The more you care about preserving your own life, the more likely it is you will do so. Preserving your fingernails or your hair, which will grow back naturally, is a different matter. However, many people are very distraught if they lose all of their hair, or someone were to rip out their fingernails so that they'd never grow back, and they'd look like a bit of a freak and have the potential of social exclusion as a result. Human beings don't do well with social exclusion.<br /><br />2. Sure, it's possible that when you die you don't really die because you have an immortal soul. I see no evidence that this is the case, though. What I do see is that everyone has a strong reason to <i>believe</i> that they have an immortal soul, regardless of whether this is true or not, because fear is unpleasant. This is similar to how people find all kinds of reasons to justify unethical behaviour after they've done something wrong, because guilt is unpleasant. Just because people want to believe something, about themselves to escape negative emotions doesn't make it true, and those things that people really want to believe should be viewed with particular skepticism. A belief which allows you to escape from "terror-ridden despair" should be examined very carefully, and really strong evidence provided before you conclude that you've found the truth.Myronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11734754018546873245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399217057737190875.post-17338359451812127902009-04-05T21:34:00.000-03:002009-04-05T21:34:00.000-03:00It might take a silly and dogmatic theist to menti...It might take a silly and dogmatic theist to mention this, but: have you pondered *why* this "terror of being obliterated" is so strong in his heart, and--if we're honest--in the heart of every human person?<BR/><BR/>Methinks, when you (sincerely and kindly enough) offer alternate ways of saying, "no, you'll have made a difference, no matter how small", you're begging two questions:<BR/><BR/>1) Could this "existential terror" not be in his heart because oblivion is contrary to our nature? (Honestly: who screams in soul-searching terror when we get our nails clipped, or when we use the restroom? Things which are in keeping with our nature don't usually bring forth this sort of terror-ridden despair...)<BR/><BR/>2) Is it not possible to entertain everything you've said, re: "impact in the world", and still have immortality of the soul, as well?paladinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17097301774804069480noreply@blogger.com