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> What are the things that—on your deathbed—you expect to regret? What does it matter? Let's say the deathbed will last seven days. That's nothing compared to

by Dewie3 11y ago

> What are the things that—on your deathbed—you expect to regret? What does it matter? Let's say the deathbed will last seven days. That's nothing compared to the rest of your life (let's say ~70 years). Why would you guide your life according to a projection of what you will feel in a mere seven days of your whole life? Why not ask more immediate questions: is anything I do right now, day to day, that I could do differently in order to live a more fulfilling life? A more fulfilling life day to day of course, not necessarily fulfilling memories for some distant deathbed future.

gutnor 11y ago
I guess what you say is actually what that means. Not a literal deathbed realization. There is no end-game, there is no winning, no failure, no goals in life except what you put in it. The only thing that will decide if you are worthy or not is yourself. Yourself today and yourself tomorrow up to the day you die. Financial gain is a dangerous goal in life because it very often has a very poor ROI. On the other hand, your whole biology, tweaked by million of year of evolution, made it so that taking care of people around you is very often the best bang of happiness for buck. But then whatever, plenty of religion / philosophies to rationalize yourself into happiness almost regardless what you decide to do.
- Dewie3 11y ago
  > I guess what you say is actually what that means. Not a literal deathbed realization. Then why not just say that? Compel me to self-improve. Don't guilt me in to some existential dread. > On the other hand, your whole biology, tweaked by million of year of evolution, made it so that taking care of people around you is very often the best bang of happiness for buck. Evolution compels you into procreating and taking care of that offspring. But there are many more motivators than good feelings. As long as you passed on your "legacy", it doesn't matter whether you did it out of joy or out of fear and worry. As far as the cause and effect of evolution is concerned.
gurkendoktor 11y ago
I don't think it is about feeling satisfied on the deathbed. We imagine the deathbed as the place where we finally understand what is important and what isn't, and then try to apply this knowledge to the limited timespan in between. It is a way to take a step back and evaluate our lives.

by Dewie3 11y ago

gutnor 11y ago

I guess what you say is actually what that means. Not a literal deathbed realization. There is no end-game, there is no winning, no failure, no goals in life except what you put in it. The only thing that will decide if you are worthy or not is yourself. Yourself today and yourself tomorrow up to the day you die. Financial gain is a dangerous goal in life because it very often has a very poor ROI. On the other hand, your whole biology, tweaked by million of year of evolution, made it so that taking care of people around you is very often the best bang of happiness for buck. But then whatever, plenty of religion / philosophies to rationalize yourself into happiness almost regardless what you decide to do.

Dewie3 11y ago
> I guess what you say is actually what that means. Not a literal deathbed realization. Then why not just say that? Compel me to self-improve. Don't guilt me in to some existential dread. > On the other hand, your whole biology, tweaked by million of year of evolution, made it so that taking care of people around you is very often the best bang of happiness for buck. Evolution compels you into procreating and taking care of that offspring. But there are many more motivators than good feelings. As long as you passed on your "legacy", it doesn't matter whether you did it out of joy or out of fear and worry. As far as the cause and effect of evolution is concerned.

gurkendoktor 11y ago

I don't think it is about feeling satisfied on the deathbed. We imagine the deathbed as the place where we finally understand what is important and what isn't, and then try to apply this knowledge to the limited timespan in between. It is a way to take a step back and evaluate our lives.