8. Socrates and the Soul: A new reading of the Phaedo.
posted by Todd Park Mohr at
1:55 PM
Friday, September 23, 2005
Previous Posts
- Nietzche's Ultimate Introduction to Socrates
- Nietzche's philosophy; readings from Zarathustra,...
- Hurricane Katrina editorial, recap of first four e...
- a look at duality/non-duality through the lense of...
- Readings from Walt Whitman, Christianity, Buddhism...
- Upanishadic tradition, Christianity, Buddhism, Sch...
- Laying out the ground rules, getting a working def...
Subscribe to
Posts [Atom]
4 Comments:
I definitely experienced an aha moment when you touched on the idea of death and how there should be a "supernatural joy" instead of sorrow upon its occurrence. I struggle with the idea of death; actually, to be honest I am petrified of it. I am trying to alleviate this fear by researching/discussing individual, religious and philosophical perspectives on the issue so that I can somehow derive my own meaning and therefore find comfort instead of fear.
It is quite interesting to hear personal thoughts on the idea of death. Leads to some great discussions. I think my personal concept of death and what happens afterwards is also hindered by my sense of logic. Some would say it is a lack of faith; I do believe I have faith in people, ideas and movements, just not blind faith. I tend to think that is a good thing, but maybe that is why I am dealing with some serious roadblocks. Thanks as always for sharing your thoughts and ideas. Kind of lights a fire under me to revisit some of mine.
I was there when my Grandfather passed away on Memorial day. I had never experienced someones death before. Yes, I had been to funerals, seen the "after math" of death, but never death occuring. It was extremely peaceful, and very supernatural. I almost felt happy for my Grandpa. Since this experience, I have looked at death differently. The only "for sure" thing in our life is death. Maybe you are not scared of death, but of what is after death...the unknown. There are many different theories of what proceeds death, maybe finding your philosophy on what is after death would allow you to really truley live, to be less fearfull.
I think your skepticle disposition is a great strength. The roadblocks it poses, while they are inconvenient, and the emotions of fear with it are the marks of a heroic enterprise. To question the ready made notions of life after death I think requires the deepest courage, and every act of bravery is never without little and big fears dogging one, tagging along all the way. Fear can be a sign that one is dealing with a raw and exposed nerve - which is always what the death question must be. It is a mark of human-ness, honesty. A robust life is one lived in spite of the looming spector of non-being, which haunts us all, not in denial of it.
There is also a kind of fear which is debilitating and paralysing. One which presses one to live in fantasies and regressions. So the trick is, I think, to keep wading, moving through fear, in spite of fear. Make a friend of fear and invite him in for tea, since your not going to get him to ever "leave you alone". If one knows ones fears well, when they appear, they can function as an accurate barometer to tell you your on the right track.
I consider myself lucky when it comes to my feelings on death; I know so many people who fear it with great anxiety. Death to me is in the natural order of life and it is my faith that allows me to look forward to what is to come. To me, life here on earth is "school for the soul" so to speak; our souls are here to learn. I believe each of us had a say in our circumstance that we would face during out lives prior to being to being born and live our lives under free will from God. It is this purpose of life that frees me from the fear death. Some my find comfort in the hundreds of books writen on persons who have had near-death experiences. Persons who question death and the life hereafter may find the consistancy of these persons experiences, regardless of their belief, reassuring.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home