always_searching Posted March 9, 2010 Posted March 9, 2010 So, this is sort of a spin-off of my thread on "The Purpose of Life," but it's more directed not toward what you believe the purpose of life to be, but why it is that you decide to keep on living. There are many reasons to do so: Plato says it's because we belong to the gods and have no right to end our life prematurely; Kant thinks we have a duty; Schopenhauer things that we have a Will to Life; other philosophers think it's an offense to the community to take your life, and then there are philosophical/theological reasons relating to eternal damnation if you commit suicide. So, why do you ultimately stay alive? Is it that you enjoy living in the world? Do you think you have a duty to family, friends, the community, the government, God, etc.? Are you just afraid of death and don't want to speed-up the process? Or are you afraid of an eternity in hell? I'm curious to know your reasons!
JustJoe Posted March 9, 2010 Posted March 9, 2010 Miss Always searching, I'm a soldier, and have intimate experiences with the alternative, living is better and far less messy.
laRubiaBonita Posted March 9, 2010 Posted March 9, 2010 i do not think it is "my choice" not die.... just as it was not "my choice" to be born. granted i have made stupid choices that could've killed me.... and some of my choices slowly kill me indirectly.... but i am slowly dying anyways- so big deal. i do feel obligated to my family and friends- i do think i enrich the world and others lives, but i feel no obligation to those i do not know. i am not scared of death.... i am more frightened of living.
Author always_searching Posted March 9, 2010 Author Posted March 9, 2010 JustJoe: I'm sorry to hear that--no one should have to be that acquainted with death and destruction, but I appreciate you putting your life on the line for your country. It's a brave thing to do. laRubiaBonita: So, you think since you didn't have a choice to be born that you don't have the choice to take your life? Is it due to a religious belief, because there must be a foundation for such a claim. We may not have a choice to come into this world, but we most certainly are bombarded with a plethora of choices throughout life; and, unless you believe in some foundation for not having a right to take your own life, it seems as though what you do with your life, including whether you take it is a choice that you have the right to make. I'm not arguing that it's the case that suicide is permissible--I am religious and believe that would be an offense to myself, others, and to God. However, if I didn't have some ethical foundation for why it is wrong, it would seem I would have to conclude otherwise i.e. that suicide is permissible.
OpenBook Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 There were quite a few times in my life where I've had suicidal thoughts and asked myself this very question - so I understand completely what it feels like!! What kept me going then was the thought that if I took myself out it would leave a terrible lifelong psychological burden on my family. I just couldn't do that to them. And it was unthinkable as far as my DD was concerned. So I kept going. But the longer I live, the more I want to know WHY I'm here. I know there's a very good reason why I'm still alive. And I hope I discover this reason before I die. That would be nice. So I guess what's keeping me going now is... curiosity.
Author always_searching Posted March 10, 2010 Author Posted March 10, 2010 Hi, OpenBook! Thanks for responding. Rationally (not theologically), I think I'm in a similar boat as you--I've made it this far, so I might as well finish this game of life and see what happens. (Edit first post: "Thinks"! LOL, not "things".)
knaveman Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 Life is an adventure. It's fun! I will enjoy it until my last breath.
disgracian Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 Death is only a matter of time, so it's something I don't have to worry about. Besides, life is interesting. Cheers, D.
deux ex machina Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 (edited) Pure, unadulterated spite. Edited March 10, 2010 by deux ex machina
deux ex machina Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 J/k ---------- Actually, it's something like this: Life is an adventure. It's fun! I will enjoy it until my last breath. I also want to be able to participate in whatever happens next.
threebyfate Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 Some of the things you have to ask yourself, are: What is happiness to you? What makes you laugh? What makes you cry? What makes you feel good? What makes you feel bad? What inspires you? What is contentment? What is love? There are more questions for that list but after you've answered them, they will give you reasons for living. They do for me.
Ross PK Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 Because I can't find a quick painless way to kill myself.
disgracian Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 One of the strangest things I've heard is that drowning can be a pretty easy way to go if you don't fight it. Three initial oppositions to that idea I can think of straight away are: How would anyone know?How do you NOT fight it?Based on my experiences of drinks going down the wrong pipe, water on the lungs is a highly unpleasant experience.Still, food for thought. Personally, I think they were having a lend of me. Cheers, D.
Ross PK Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 One of the strangest things I've heard is that drowning can be a pretty easy way to go if you don't fight it. Three initial oppositions to that idea I can think of straight away are: How would anyone know?How do you NOT fight it?Based on my experiences of drinks going down the wrong pipe, water on the lungs is a highly unpleasant experience.Still, food for thought. Personally, I think they were having a lend of me. Cheers, D. I can't see how you couldn't fight it or how it can be easy either. Suffocating is a horrible experience as I've tried it myself.
JohnnyBlaze Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 Why do I live? Why not? It's not like I have something better to do with my time.
laRubiaBonita Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 i do not think it is "my choice" not die.... just as it was not "my choice" to be born. granted i have made stupid choices that could've killed me.... and some of my choices slowly kill me indirectly.... but i am slowly dying anyways- so big deal. i do feel obligated to my family and friends- i do think i enrich the world and others lives, but i feel no obligation to those i do not know. i am not scared of death.... i am more frightened of living. laRubiaBonita: So, you think since you didn't have a choice to be born that you don't have the choice to take your life? Is it due to a religious belief, because there must be a foundation for such a claim. We may not have a choice to come into this world, but we most certainly are bombarded with a plethora of choices throughout life; and, unless you believe in some foundation for not having a right to take your own life, it seems as though what you do with your life, including whether you take it is a choice that you have the right to make. I'm not arguing that it's the case that suicide is permissible--I am religious and believe that would be an offense to myself, others, and to God. However, if I didn't have some ethical foundation for why it is wrong, it would seem I would have to conclude otherwise i.e. that suicide is permissible. i didn't mention anything about religion or god.... so i am not sure how my comment got construed that way. i have had suicidal thoughts- almost went through with it, but my cat changed my mind.... he would be soo bummed without me so i didn't do it. and what if death sucks worse than living- that would suck too.
quankanne Posted March 10, 2010 Posted March 10, 2010 I've solidly with the "life is an adventure" crowd – I'm curious to see what comes next, good or bad ...
CrestfallenNoMore Posted March 11, 2010 Posted March 11, 2010 I pondered this question many times in the past few years. And I've decided that, like all human beings, I'm just as selfish as everyone else. I live, because if I didn't, I'd never get to cook a gourmet meal again, laugh again, drink wine, have intelligent discussions, make stupid choices, act like a kid, nail a presentation, have an orgasm and, well, I could go on and on. But I keep living because I don't want to give up the pleasures of life just yet.
The Paper Knight Posted March 12, 2010 Posted March 12, 2010 I love surfing, skiing, diving and fishing they are my hedonistic religions
blind_otter Posted March 12, 2010 Posted March 12, 2010 One of the strangest things I've heard is that drowning can be a pretty easy way to go if you don't fight it. Three initial oppositions to that idea I can think of straight away are: How would anyone know?How do you NOT fight it?Based on my experiences of drinks going down the wrong pipe, water on the lungs is a highly unpleasant experience.Still, food for thought. Personally, I think they were having a lend of me. Cheers, D. When I was 8, we were floating on rafts down the river and I fell out of my raft. For some reason I sank to the bottom of the river, and as I kicked to swim to the surface, these grasses and weeds twined around my ankles and legs and no matter how hard I kicked, I couldn't get back up to the surface. At first I felt panic, because I was holding my breath, and I was exhausted from exertion. At some point I think I convulsively inhaled water, and was suddenly detached and euphoric - I remember that moment clearly, in the water, like reality switched to a different track for me. Maybe it has to do with the quantity of fluid in your lungs. Anyways, my middle sister (of the three, I'm the youngest) finally noticed I wasn't coming back up and jumped in and ripped the weeds off me and dragged me up and I coughed up most of what I breathed. To the OP - I don't rightly know why I keep living. At this point, my son is the reason I keep living. But there have been many dark moments when I considered that I was, perhaps, a horse that should have been put down. I've often wondered if a person can be too psychologically wounded, for whatever reasons, to the point that the cost benefit analysis would indicate that they actually should end their lives. But a part of me thinks that it is out of my hands. Having been what I have been through, having seen the darkness that humans are capable of and still being alive I wonder if I have any say whatsoever, and if ultimately the Islamic concept of submission to the will of God is a better way to approach life, rather than fighting for everything all the time. Or maybe Job was right, it's all about embracing the antinomy of life.
Els Posted March 12, 2010 Posted March 12, 2010 Drowning is one of the most painful ways to die. Biologically proven. I want to live because I want to continue existing. Feeling. Experiencing. There's so many things I want to do and haven't had the chance yet. Life is really only beginning for me.
Disillusioned Posted March 12, 2010 Posted March 12, 2010 I only keep living because I'd be doing my dog a great wrong if I ended my life now... besides, SOMEone has to write these stupid novels. That said, though... the women are better in Heaven.
Ms. Joolie Posted March 12, 2010 Posted March 12, 2010 Everyday I wake up. I don't choose to, but I appreciate it. haha. Life is given to me, and I won't give it back. It's a gift that I want to use. I want to live, and live well. So I keep on living. Some times life is great, other times it's really chaotic and difficult... i can totally flip. BUT.... I keep on living. I want to live, but more than that, I want to live well. Still learning.
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