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Is Life Better than death?
- Thread starter Frisco
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yeah,
sadly death is just that death, every atom in your body will slowly seperate and go off to attach together in a differnt way to create somthing new. you wont be aware of any of this because you will have ceased to exist i just hope you you can look back and say you conributed to humanity and enjoyed yourself and others enjoyed it too.
Based on our Earth based experiences that would seem to be correct, but is it? While it might seem likely, I'm not willing to commit to that view.
I'm a little late but...
Now I will spend the rest of the night trying to remember what that is from.
Damn you!
I once had a terrible boss. She was the kind of person who would scold her only hard-working subordinate for the fact that none of the others bothered to take their share of the work. At the time by which she quit, I would have appreciated her death more than I actually did appreciate my own life. But generally speaking, life is probably better than death.
This.
That being said it's still a topic open for discussion because at the end of the day we can prove nothing. And that's a frightening thought in itself. I can't even comprehend the ramifications of ceasing to exist, not being able to feel oblivion because you no longer think. You ask yourself, what would it be like? You can't comprehend something when you have no thoughts, or ability to make them. Your brain, a just a powerful biological computer really, has no more power being supplied to it. Same as when your computer has no power, it does nothing and it knows nothing and it doesn't know that it doesn't know or do these things, it's sort of a paradox.
If you find solace in another belief that's fine by me, and I don't think any other beliefs are irrational at all, they're just alternative thoughts on something we have no information on, so anything is fair game in my opinion.
That being said it's still a topic open for discussion because at the end of the day we can prove nothing. And that's a frightening thought in itself. I can't even comprehend the ramifications of ceasing to exist, not being able to feel oblivion because you no longer think. You ask yourself, what would it be like? You can't comprehend something when you have no thoughts, or ability to make them. Your brain, a just a powerful biological computer really, has no more power being supplied to it. Same as when your computer has no power, it does nothing and it knows nothing and it doesn't know that it doesn't know or do these things, it's sort of a paradox.
If you find solace in another belief that's fine by me, and I don't think any other beliefs are irrational at all, they're just alternative thoughts on something we have no information on, so anything is fair game in my opinion.
I honestly think that everyone is aware that, at death, we will no longer exist. One theist I knew literally screamed in fear at death, and a fear of death seems to fairly accurately characterize most theists' sentiments towards death. How could souls exist? Explain the mechanism, and do not say you saw a ghost. A priori and a posteriori justification is required, i.e. provide an ontological account of how immaterial existence is possible.
I do not really care about death. I truly believe life is best defined as the struggle against suffering. Generally, people define sadness as merely the absence of happiness, as if happiness were the usual state of the human being. I think it would make more sense to inverse the definition: happiness being the absence of sadness. All day long, we are filled with wants: I want to go to the bathroom, I want to go home, I want to see something interesting, I wish I could have sex with this person, I wish I could just "think" this post onto the screen rather than type it, and so on. It is only in brief moments throughout the day that these desires are consummated, if ever.
People constantly try to deceive themselves through various means into believing that they are better off alive. One could argue that it negatively affects only themselves, but it does not. People use their belief that life is better than "non-life" as their excuse for bringing children into the world--the sin of all sins. I understand that people have children under the belief that they will have better than they had, but this is a mistake. Not only is it true that people become accustomed to with what they are presented in life, but that it is impossible to live a truly happy life. Life is an existential prison, enslaving us to our never-ending desires, and to give birth is to, in an adaption of a Schopenhauer quote, condemn a child to life, as you would condemn a prisoner to death. Ironically, the child--having done nothing wrong--gets the punishment, while the prisoner gets a reward.
Of course, given the above, the obvious question is why I do not kill myself. The obvious answer is that I do not have the courage to do so. The will-to-survive is still too strong, but do not worry, that will hopefully recede in time. I have been dually conditioned by society and evolution to not do what I know is the most logical thing to do.
Abortion is the only moral resolution to a pregnancy; it is the only a decision a good parent would make.
For those of us with the unfortunate distinction as living beings, there is suicide.
It is the way to go.
Pun half-intended.
A priori and a posteriori justification is required, i.e. provide an ontological account of how immaterial existence is possible. I do not really care about death. I truly believe life is best defined as the struggle against suffering. Generally, people define sadness as merely the absence of happiness, as if happiness were the usual state of the human being. I think it would make more sense to inverse the definition: happiness being the absence of sadness. All day long, we are filled with wants: I want to go to the bathroom, I want to go home, I want to see something interesting, I wish I could have sex with this person, I wish I could just "think" this post onto the screen rather than type it, and so on. It is only in brief moments throughout the day that these desires are consummated, if ever.
People constantly try to deceive themselves through various means into believing that they are better off alive. One could argue that it negatively affects only themselves, but it does not. People use their belief that life is better than "non-life" as their excuse for bringing children into the world--the sin of all sins. I understand that people have children under the belief that they will have better than they had, but this is a mistake. Not only is it true that people become accustomed to with what they are presented in life, but that it is impossible to live a truly happy life. Life is an existential prison, enslaving us to our never-ending desires, and to give birth is to, in an adaption of a Schopenhauer quote, condemn a child to life, as you would condemn a prisoner to death. Ironically, the child--having done nothing wrong--gets the punishment, while the prisoner gets a reward.
Of course, given the above, the obvious question is why I do not kill myself. The obvious answer is that I do not have the courage to do so. The will-to-survive is still too strong, but do not worry, that will hopefully recede in time. I have been dually conditioned by society and evolution to not do what I know is the most logical thing to do.
Abortion is the only moral resolution to a pregnancy; it is the only a decision a good parent would make.
For those of us with the unfortunate distinction as living beings, there is suicide.
It is the way to go.
Pun half-intended.
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I honestly think that everyone is aware that, at death, we will no longer exist. One theist I knew literally screamed in fear at death, and a fear of death seems to fairly accurately characterize most theists' sentiments towards death. How could souls exist? Explain the mechanism, and do not say you saw a ghost.
I do not really care about death. I truly believe life is best defined as the struggle against suffering. Generally, people define sadness as merely the absence of happiness, as if happiness were the usual state of the human being. I think it would make more sense to inverse the definition: happiness being the absence of sadness. All day long, we are filled with wants: I want to go to the bathroom, I want to go home, I want to see something interesting, I wish I could have sex with this person, I wish I could just "think" this post onto the screen rather than type it, and so on. It is only in brief moments throughout the day that these desires are consummated, if ever.
People constantly try to deceive themselves through various means into believing that they are better off alive. One could argue that it negatively affects only themselves, but it does not. People use their belief that life is better than "non-life" as their excuse for bringing children into the world--the sin of all sins. I understand that people have children under the belief that they will have better than they had, but this is a mistake. Not only is it true that people become accustomed to with what they are presented in life, but that it is impossible to live a truly happy life. Life is an existential prison, enslaving us to our never-ending desires, and to give birth is to, in an adaption of a Schopenhauer quote, condemn a child to life, as you would condemn a prisoner to death. Ironically, the child--having done nothing wrong--gets the punishment, while the prisoner gets a reward.
Of course, given the above, the obvious question is why I do not kill myself. The obvious answer is that I do not have the courage to do so. The will-to-survive is still too strong, but do not worry, that will hopefully recede in time. I have been dually conditioned by society and evolution to not do what I know is the most logical thing to do.
Abortion is the only moral resolution to a pregnancy; it is the only a decision a good parent would make.
For those of us with the unfortunate distinction as living beings, there is suicide.
It is the way to go.
Pun half-intended.
Wow. That is deep. I get where you're coming from and I agree with most of it. Committing suicide is not an answer for a lot of people because that "possibility" of going to hell is a very real fact of life for them. Or death. You know what I mean. I just try to chug a long with the knowledge that you only get one chance. And you're very lucky to have been given this chance as the odds of you being here are crazy.
Countless times I've wanted to end it all, but I keep thinking about the "what ifs".
Wow.... while I agree with your notion that "happiness" is not the ultimate goal or the baseline of existence, the rest of your comments, including the one I've quoted above, are quite disheartening. It would appear that you would support the extinction of the human species as the ethical choice since the creation of life is the "sin of all sins".
How sad.
Is it safe for me to assume that you are not a parent?
life is, indeed, brilliant. I hope whomever is asking finds what makes them happy. Life is such a short period of time, I think it's in everyone's best interests to find out how they can make the most of that time and be happy.
It's a question I could have answered negatively to some years ago, and I've wanted to end it all sometimes too. But Im telling you now to hold in there. Life really can turn on a dime. My life has changed dramatically. Find something that makes you happy, something that inspires you. Turn it into a big dream, work on your dream like it's the most important thing in your life and walk your path with pride. Don't expect it all to be roses though...You will never enjoy the view from the peak if you haven't already seen it from the bottom of the valley.
You better make it a big dream, because they really do come true.
It's a question I could have answered negatively to some years ago, and I've wanted to end it all sometimes too. But Im telling you now to hold in there. Life really can turn on a dime. My life has changed dramatically. Find something that makes you happy, something that inspires you. Turn it into a big dream, work on your dream like it's the most important thing in your life and walk your path with pride. Don't expect it all to be roses though...You will never enjoy the view from the peak if you haven't already seen it from the bottom of the valley.
You better make it a big dream, because they really do come true.
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That's a good idea. Maybe I should start charging people for "disheartening me" I would be quite wealthy, quite fast.
I would be happy if I get a painless death when such a time comes. If I know when I would have a natural death, I can plan my savings to leave just the right amount for retirement, nothing more, nothing less, to get the bang for my money.
I honestly think that everyone is aware that, at death, we will no longer exist. One theist I knew literally screamed in fear at death, and a fear of death seems to fairly accurately characterize most theists' sentiments towards death. How could souls exist? Explain the mechanism, and do not say you saw a ghost.
I do not really care about death. I truly believe life is best defined as the struggle against suffering. Generally, people define sadness as merely the absence of happiness, as if happiness were the usual state of the human being. I think it would make more sense to inverse the definition: happiness being the absence of sadness. All day long, we are filled with wants: I want to go to the bathroom, I want to go home, I want to see something interesting, I wish I could have sex with this person, I wish I could just "think" this post onto the screen rather than type it, and so on. It is only in brief moments throughout the day that these desires are consummated, if ever.
People constantly try to deceive themselves through various means into believing that they are better off alive. One could argue that it negatively affects only themselves, but it does not. People use their belief that life is better than "non-life" as their excuse for bringing children into the world--the sin of all sins. I understand that people have children under the belief that they will have better than they had, but this is a mistake. Not only is it true that people become accustomed to with what they are presented in life, but that it is impossible to live a truly happy life. Life is an existential prison, enslaving us to our never-ending desires, and to give birth is to, in an adaption of a Schopenhauer quote, condemn a child to life, as you would condemn a prisoner to death. Ironically, the child--having done nothing wrong--gets the punishment, while the prisoner gets a reward.
Of course, given the above, the obvious question is why I do not kill myself. The obvious answer is that I do not have the courage to do so. The will-to-survive is still too strong, but do not worry, that will hopefully recede in time. I have been dually conditioned by society and evolution to not do what I know is the most logical thing to do.
Abortion is the only moral resolution to a pregnancy; it is the only a decision a good parent would make.
For those of us with the unfortunate distinction as living beings, there is suicide.
It is the way to go.
Pun half-intended.
Sounds like someone thinks too much. Life is fun. Don't make it more serious than it has to be. The way I see it the world is going to throw at me what the world is going to throw at me, might as well make the best of it. Find some people along the way who are worth spending time with and enjoy the road you're (driving not riding) on.