Comments on: When does dying matter? http://www.rossparker.com/2009/10/13/when-does-dying-matter/ my personal homepage Sun, 09 May 2010 19:23:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Ross http://www.rossparker.com/2009/10/13/when-does-dying-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-410 Ross Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:42:04 +0000 http://www.rossparker.com/?p=388#comment-410 <strong>John</strong>, thanks for your comment (which I have amended to correct the better/worse typo). I think I didn't write clearly. I am not saying that a quick death is always preferable to a slow one. Indeed, if I had to pick a quick or slow death, I may be tempted to go for the slower one, as long as the pain was in some way bearable: I am not sold on the idea that our minds survive our physical death and, as you say, I would reason that <em>some</em> life (under <em>some</em> pain) would be better than none. What I was trying to get at was the notion of an <em>unknowing</em> death - where you have no idea that you are going to die in the short term. Two examples of 'unknowing' may be standing next to the bomb on a train, or being poisoned in one's sleep. My question is: if I think I am going to wake up tomorrow, and go to bed happy, what does it matter (to me) if I do not? I think Galen Strawson is arguing that it doesn't - that the future forgone - the unseen tomorrow - was never mine to own, and so I cannot mourn its loss to me. John, thanks for your comment (which I have amended to correct the better/worse typo). I think I didn’t write clearly. I am not saying that a quick death is always preferable to a slow one. Indeed, if I had to pick a quick or slow death, I may be tempted to go for the slower one, as long as the pain was in some way bearable: I am not sold on the idea that our minds survive our physical death and, as you say, I would reason that some life (under some pain) would be better than none.

What I was trying to get at was the notion of an unknowing death – where you have no idea that you are going to die in the short term. Two examples of ‘unknowing’ may be standing next to the bomb on a train, or being poisoned in one’s sleep. My question is: if I think I am going to wake up tomorrow, and go to bed happy, what does it matter (to me) if I do not? I think Galen Strawson is arguing that it doesn’t – that the future forgone – the unseen tomorrow – was never mine to own, and so I cannot mourn its loss to me.

]]> By: John http://www.rossparker.com/2009/10/13/when-does-dying-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-406 John Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:13:04 +0000 http://www.rossparker.com/?p=388#comment-406 Is it always the case that instant, unknowing death is a better outcome? I am pretty sure that most people wouldn't want to endure a long painful death. But is it possible that some might take the other option - as it at leaves the opportunity to confront death on their own terms? Could the human ego take control - the desire to put some sort of legacy in place before death, to have have revenge on someone or to make your peace with someone estranged? Assuming that death is final and there is nothing afterwards, I might think that in some respects some would take the extra time on earth even it meant pain and suffering. Is it always the case that instant, unknowing death is a better outcome? I am pretty sure that most people wouldn’t want to endure a long painful death. But is it possible that some might take the other option – as it at leaves the opportunity to confront death on their own terms? Could the human ego take control – the desire to put some sort of legacy in place before death, to have have revenge on someone or to make your peace with someone estranged? Assuming that death is final and there is nothing afterwards, I might think that in some respects some would take the extra time on earth even it meant pain and suffering.

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