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Death is only scary because of its potential impermanence corroborated by the probability of existing in the first place. Being afraid of permanent death makes

Death is only scary because of its potential impermanence corroborated by the probability of existing in the first place. Being afraid of permanent death makes about as much sense as being afraid of going to sleep. Lots of words here for very little insight.

layer8 3y ago
Like most if not all emotions, fear of death makes a lot of sense evolutionarily. That’s why it’s an integral part of us humans. It’s an interesting question if that would be different if death wasn’t necessarily permanent.
thereticent 3y ago
Explain a little more. I'm not understanding why the "potential impermanence" of death is a factor at all, much less why that potential impermanence is corroborated by the probability of existing in the first place. To me it sounds like you're claiming that it makes us nervous that death might not last, and somehow realizing that being alive in the first place being improbable makes that nervousness worse. How in the world that would be the case escapes me, so asserting it as obvious seems like...too few words here to achieve any insight. I could be misunderstanding, so more words to clarify would be appreciated.
thereticent 3y ago
Explain a little more. I'm not understanding why the "potential impermanence" of death is a factor at all, much less why that potential impermanence is corroborated by the probability of existing in the first place. To me it sounds like you're claiming that it makes us nervous that death might not last, and somehow realizing that being alive in the first place being improbable makes that nervousness worse. How in the world that would be the case escapes me, so asserting it as obvious seems like...too few words here to achieve any insight. I could be misunderstanding, so more words to clarify would be appreciated.
- cupcakecommons 3y ago
  The concept of infinite rebirth and suffering at varying degrees of consciousness is much more threatening than the concept of having a single conscious existence bookended by stable nothingness. Stable nothingness is just modern-day materialist heaven. It's a coping mechanism that relies on your currently inexplicable conscious node of existence being the first and last across infinity/eternity.
the_gipsy 3y ago
I'll wake up tomorrow. If I die, I will never wake up for the resto of history of the universe and everything.
- quonn 3y ago
  But there will be nobody to realize that at that point. And besides, of the countless living human beings that _do_ wake up there must be some with very similar circumstances and a similar state of mind. How is it really different to be them?

layer8 3y ago

Like most if not all emotions, fear of death makes a lot of sense evolutionarily. That’s why it’s an integral part of us humans. It’s an interesting question if that would be different if death wasn’t necessarily permanent.

thereticent 3y ago

Explain a little more. I'm not understanding why the "potential impermanence" of death is a factor at all, much less why that potential impermanence is corroborated by the probability of existing in the first place. To me it sounds like you're claiming that it makes us nervous that death might not last, and somehow realizing that being alive in the first place being improbable makes that nervousness worse. How in the world that would be the case escapes me, so asserting it as obvious seems like...too few words here to achieve any insight. I could be misunderstanding, so more words to clarify would be appreciated.

thereticent 3y ago

cupcakecommons 3y ago
The concept of infinite rebirth and suffering at varying degrees of consciousness is much more threatening than the concept of having a single conscious existence bookended by stable nothingness. Stable nothingness is just modern-day materialist heaven. It's a coping mechanism that relies on your currently inexplicable conscious node of existence being the first and last across infinity/eternity.

the_gipsy 3y ago

I'll wake up tomorrow. If I die, I will never wake up for the resto of history of the universe and everything.

quonn 3y ago
But there will be nobody to realize that at that point. And besides, of the countless living human beings that _do_ wake up there must be some with very similar circumstances and a similar state of mind. How is it really different to be them?