Does Awareness of Mortality Make Us Better People?


I think this really depends on how melancholy a person is naturally. I think that being aware of our mortality can make the majority of people double check their actions and their words, but it’s not even that often that people even think about the fact that they are mortal in their day to day life. I don’t really think a lot of people my age are even thinking about death, and if they are then it’s in the existential crisis “what do I do with my life” kind of thinking about death, not how to invest relationships. I think sometimes, too, awareness of our mortality can create this sense in people that they need to go out and do the most dangerous things or risk it for the biscuit 24/7 and then they end up in a lot of trouble. Some people think death is terrifying and want to distract themselves and this is where a lot of things like drugs or alcohol can come in as a way to distract generally depressed people from the reality of their deaths. It really depends on the person, and if they are even afraid of death in the first place.

Comments

  1. CurbeeMarch 12, 2019 at 2:15 PM

    I do agree with your statement of how people our age think "What do I do with my life", but I also believe that since your example of people doing risky things, contradicts this. If we completely don't think about death as a whole, most of those people would be doing literally nothing with their lives. Risking your life of something that makes your adrenaline rush, you must think of death at least slightly. For instance, skydiving. I'm sure many think about 'what if the parachute doesn't open when I jump out?' then you die. These risky events make you think at least slightly about your death, at least I believe.

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  2. SnowdenMarch 24, 2019 at 6:51 PM

    I believe that mortality makes people seek accomplishments and status over the idea of being a good or better person. The idea that we only have a limited time on this earth motivates people to be quick to action to try and do and see as many things as possible before their time is up. I would think that the possibility of an immortal afterlife determined by your worldly actions does more to make each of us a better person than a mortal life.

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