|
Fear of death
I'm male/18. Recently graduated high school. The first half of high school was kind of depressing. But then things started to get fun and more positive. Recently, it seems the happier I become, the more and more I fear death. It used to never bother me, but now it gives me the chills, as if I'm just realizing it. I know I'm young, but all the time I spend with friends, family, my band, my girlfriend, I can't handle the fact that it will all end, and that there might not be anything afterwards. No music, no love, no pleasure, no people. It's really scary if we just cease to exist completely. People might say, if you're dead, you won't feel anything. But that's the thing, I want to feel, and experience. I am atheist, I do not believe in any gods, but I do consider the possibility of an afterlife. Although I cannot know of anything beyond this life, I do know one thing is certain. All I know, is that I'm experiencing. But I do not know what exactly I'm experiencing. Now, if the physics and building blocks of the universe allow me to experience consciousness once, and these building blocks cannot be destroyed, wouldn't that imply the possibility of remaining conscious? Or being conscious in another form? Either way I see the alternate as a possibility as well, that it just fades to nothing. Maybe I can't just face the reality that it might just happen. Either way, its been bothering me lately.
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Miscellaneous category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Random Weirdos?
Being an atheist does somewhat preclude the possibility of an after-life in an unearthly paradise, so we'll take that out of the picture. OK, we differ from all the other animals by being conscious of our own mortality. An animal will of course take steps to defend it's life against a predator or threat...but that's not the same thing. Quite possibly the awareness of our own mortality is a function of us having a complex and sophisticated language and nothing more? The idea of consciousness existing without a living brain is akin to the thought that digestion could occur without a stomach. Digestion is a process, the stomach is an object but there is a mutual dependency. The same with thoughts and the brain. Some of the more gloomy German philosophers have mused that since we know we will ultimately cease to exist, how and why on earth does a man bother living, and continue to make plans, and have ambitions at all? One theory is that humans are merely carriers of genetic 'code' and live only to pass on that code to the next generation. For the species to thrive and multiply, and colonise. Since genes cannot do anything other than replicate themselves, keeping perhaps random mutations that benefit the species, dropping those that do not, then perhaps in that way we are immortal? Our genes are in fact as old as mankind then? Is that why we tend to like a roaring log fire in our house...it speaks to that age-old 'code'...preserved from the time when fire meant warmth, light, safety and security? I don't know of any other 'immortality'. True, matter and energy are 'conserved quantities' (we can not create or destroy either on earth, perhaps anywhere in the universe either?). Only convert their state. Possibly another kind of 'immortality' if you stretch it a bit. But surely not a conscious one? This is a massive question, and there are myriad theories in answer. Really, I believe all we have to do, the only 'decision' we have to make day-to-day is how we use the time we are given. And let infinity worry about itself! Nice to chat with a thoughtful and obviously intelligent young man though...good luck in your own personal search for meaning. Some find it in religion or spritual/mystical places. The desire for 'something more'. I'd say take a look around you at some of the wonderful things this earth and this life has to offer. What MORE could you need or want?
ps. I'm sure you'll read all the replies. Might mention that even Descartes' mighty 'cogito ergo sum'(I think, therefore I exist) carries the knowledge that when we cease to exist, we must inevitably cease to think also. So is fear of death even valid? Given that we cannot regret dying, or 'wish we were still alive'??
pps. A common 'collective thought' among servicemen fighting in say, world war one where they were willing to fight and quite possibly die is that "We're doing it to make a better, safer world for our children. We do this so they won't have to". A big endorsement of the theory of preserving and protecting the genetic 'code' we talked about. Sorry, I'll stop waffling-on now!!
]
I think it's normal to think this way. It's also a good sign that you're enjoying life.
I think about this stuff often. Thinking about all my family and friends will eventually be gone. It's a very weird and scary thought.
Everybody has their own opinions on what happens after we die. So that part is really up to you and what you believe.
Also I think it's fine to think this way as long as it doesn't get in the way of your life. It's more scary when we're young because we don't expect life to just end for us, we expect to live long. I've heard some elderly say that they have accepted it better than they did when they were younger, because they've known many people who have died who are around their age.
So pretty much, just live and enjoy your life. Don't let this ruin your experiences.
]
I'm 18/f and I spoke to a counsellor about this when meeting to discus another issue.
All counselors will tell you this: You never lose a fear of death.Once you have the fear, you will always have that fear.
You sound quite philosophical actually. It stems back to the whole debate of cogito ergo sum-I think therefore I am. There are many chains of thought-some people in this world believe in solipsism-where they think everyone else are zombies, controlled by a higher power. Perhaps you should read into the works of Descartes, Satre and Plato to help you formulate a debate for yourself?
Anyway, back to your question. Fear is used to keep us say. It triggers our fight or flight response. If we link what you're going through to the school of thought called empiricism-you're bound to be scared of death-having never experienced what its like! You don't know exactly what it feels like. Pardon me for being up front-but its a bit like sex. In that most people are scared at first having never experienced it. Its completely rational for them to be.
I think this is why people turn to religion especially in later life, because like you they can not accept that there is nothing. Then again, many older people say they feel they are ready to go, because they have lived enough.
I think the more one experiences life the more our perceptions of things change, including death. I mean it is a reality, there is nothing you can do, so you may as well do good in this life just in case there is an after life (this doesn't have to be heaven in your case)
Complex question-I'd read up on various philosophers like Nietsche, Descartes, Socrates and Plato to get more info-its amazing how much philosophy stays in your head after school!
]
Relax your normal. Everyone at one time or another comes face to face with the fact that they are mortal and their time on earth is limited. None of us knows for sure just how long we will have to enjoy the life we have. The one thing we should do is not live in fear of dyeing. The old saying of; "You live, you pay taxes and you die and the first two are somewhat optional is fairly true.
No one knows for sure if there is a hereafter. Those who believe in god and religion do based on their faith. To know for certain is impossible for no one has come back to tell us and their is no science to prove or disprove.
It is very possible that the hereafter is nothing but a myth to make us mortals less fearful of death. That dyeing is not to be feared as we go to a better place. I can't say for I don't know. I am not an atheist like you, I am an agnostic in that I believe in god just not religion.
What I will say is this. To live in total fear of dying is wrong. You will die some day that is a fact. When that day will happen is unknown. There are certain things you can do for yourself to forestall this event for as long as possible. If you are finding yourself living in total fear of dying then I suggest seeking the help of a professional therapist such as psychologist who is better trained to help you with this question then I am.
]
More Questions: |