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On the one hand, there are many things we can't yet scientifically explain.
But that isn't an answer, it's loser-talk, for the real reality, which we are in fact discussing will remain a mistery with this answer.
And, back to the question at hand: what *is* death? Death is, in my opinion, the absence of all normal physical functions in your body, a combination of brain death, a heart that has stopped beating and lungs that have stopped drawing breath.
This prompts another question: would you like to live forever?
Quintus Claudius Locatus wrote:I must have explained beter. I do not rely on scientific theories for all my answers,
Quintus Claudius Locatus wrote:...but I do for this question. My style is quite eclectic. And there are indeed a lot of things that science (still) can't explain.
Quintus Claudius Locatus wrote:I think scientific answers are always true, ...
Quintus Claudius Locatus wrote:... and it does not matter when or where or on which topic in which 'encadrement'. The earth goes around the sun, no matter in which surrounding you are talking about it. I see it as a challenge to merge science and philosophy; and not to separate them.
Quintus Claudius Locatus wrote:So you're not dead when you're braindead?
Quintus Claudius Locatus wrote:This prompts another question: would you like to live forever?
Two possible answers:YES: because I'm afraid of death; not of what lies behind it (because that's nothing) and not of getting old. But of the switch between life and death.
NO: Because it must be pretty boring out here if you see the ages passing by, knowing that you will see the same over and over again. And I don't think life will be fulfilling, and it will become a penalty on its own.
You don't? What else do you rely on then?
Depends on what you define as science. Medieval astronomists were convinced of their own honesty and truthfulness even though they believed the wrong things because they used the wrong methods.
For example, in dealing with insane persons it's no use trying to apply formal or informal logic. The logic used in dealing with these people is based on experience, empathy and associations. And what would you say about instincts?
To me philosophy *is* a form of science, but is so amorphous that it can take many forms. This is its great strength but at the same time its great weakness as well.
But as for my thoughts on my own question, my impulsive answer would also be yes, and then perhaps no for the reasons you've given. Only if I was certain a reasonable amount of people would be immortal, just like me, I'd chance it. Otherwise I'd end up killing myself.
Ænima wrote:Don't fear what you don't know.
Q. C. Locatus Barbatus wrote:I rely on common sense (I mean, realities that most people have accepted) for matters that are not definitly sorted out yet; I rely on philosophy and history etc. I look upon science as something that proves (and thus can't be rejected) certain facts (as they become facts when proved).
Q. C. Locatus Barbatus wrote:... Logic is a method to archieve something, not a result. And logic can be right or wrong, untill science proves it.
Q. C. Locatus Barbatus wrote:Actually I had to think of Tolkiens' Lord of the Rings - all right, I'm a Tolkien-nerd, I admit!! - in which he writes that the immortal Elves faded away and died eventually because they became so very tired of living and of the world. I think this would happen to us too.
Marcus Scribonius Curio wrote:Firstly, Draco, you ask for an example of where logic is wrong. I say Zeno. Both common sense and logic collapse when faced with the might of Zeno. (Resistance is futile! ) Oh yes, everyone knows that Zeno was wrong, but it's damn hard to prove, which is why so many philosophers have felt the need to refute him. You might say that this means it is not common sense or logic that is wrong, but Zeno's concept of them. I say, the fact that Zeno, at first glance, appears to be correct, means that our own concept of logic and common sense are in some way flawed.
Marcus Scribonius Curio wrote: As one famous person said, and I completely forget who, "The problem with common sense is that it's so common."
Marcus Scribonius Curio wrote:Why should immortality protect you from depression? All immortality is is a tendency to live forever, not immunity to all things deemed unhealthy.
Marcus Scribonius Curio wrote:As for the prospect of immortality for humans... I cannot think of anything worse, either for the world in general, or as an idea for myself. Immortality would take all meaning out of life. Why bother doing anything? You could always do so in a hundred years.
Marcus Scribonius Curio wrote:A lot of fear can certainlly be dispelled by considering it dispassionately, but ultimately there wil still be fear there. I don't think it always boils down to fear of the unknown.
==> fear of loss of control ==> fear of death ==> fear of loss of identity. That's what I think .
Marcus Pomponius Lupus wrote: you still have a list in your mind of things to do
Gnæus Dionysius Draco wrote:However, since they know they are immortal, this could also mean something else: they could have learnt to cope with it (as they should) because it is an inate characteristic.
Gnæus Dionysius Draco wrote:Marcus Scribonius Curio wrote:As one famous person said, and I completely forget who, "The problem with common sense is that it's so common."
Funny. And I contend the opposite!
every time I walk out of my house I remember myself that this could have been the last time I saw it. Every time I see a person leave I prepare myself it could have been the last time I've seen him. This is not taking obsessive proportions, however, but I try to say goodbye to everything always so I never will regret anything. And every time I do so I do know that I wouldn't regret death because of the future, because I had a past.
Q. C. Locatus Barbatus wrote:... And every time I do so I do know that I wouldn't regret death because of the future, because I had a past.
Q. C. Locatus Barbatus wrote:I took a while to understand what you meant, but I see it now. But I don't agree with this. The fact that you're immortal doesn't protect you from being hurt, getting depressions or getting tired of doing the same things over and over again.
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