I dunno. I don't remember every really getting my head up in a fucking twist about it, though it was sad when relatives died. I'm interested in science and keeping healthy, so this is the place to be, but eh. I know I'm going to die one day. Really, it's quite a thing to realize truly... I like the quote in fight club "First you gotta know, not FEAR, that you're going to die.". Sort of a "do what you want, while you're alive to do it" mentality.
I think the main reason people fear death is they are not doing what they want. There are some religions that say that fear of death propels alot of the suffering in the world. It's why people feel the need to have a positive opinion about them coming out of the mouth of the crowd, because it would 'immortalize them' in a way. Personally, while I find it sort of interesting, I don't really contemplate it alot, though I think I might start. Might get a fire under my ass =P.
That's not to say this isn't a worthy endeavor. But doing it because you're afraid to die? First of all, you're gonna die anyway, looking at how fast most science progresses when it's niche science. Second of all, that is an extremely unhealthy attitude towards death. I'm not saying be some nihilistic bum who wouldn't step out of the way of a bus, but realize that the time you have is finite. I'm also not saying 'dduuuuuudes, party your fuckin' brains out! Yeah, take a hit off that crack pipe!', though to each his own, but do the things that are genuinely important to you instead of spending your life seeking 'approval' or 'acceptance' or 'validation' or meaning derived mainly from others. Posturing is such a damned waste of time. The biggest waste of time of all, actually. I say, don't bother posturing. Focus on the moment, plan for the future (instead of obsessing/worrying over it), and do what you want. Focus on the things you can control.
I'm a big fan of Ayn Rand's work, though her characters are sorta like walking philosophy discourses, but Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged are two very good books that really go over the whole 'pursue your own selfish wants vs be selfless' situation and do it well. Two awesome books to read if you're self actualizing, they are packed with solid gold, and just good reads. Don't take it TOO seriously, though. Understand with your own mind. A dogma is completely useless. You learn nothing from it, you suceed only in twisting your mind to convince yourself you understand, or that it's valid even though in understanding it you would realize it isn't.
Edited by shazam, 06 November 2009 - 07:38 AM.