Philosophy of Death
The great Roman politician Cicero stated, "All the wisdom and reasoning in the world conclude to teach us not to fear dying" (Montaigne 122). Michel De Montaigne was a famous French philosopher during the late 1500's in time of conflict between Catholics and Protestants. In 1580, he wrote an essay called " That to Study Philosophy is to Learn to Die" in a collection of essays on life's paradoxical questions. Montaigne describes how philosophy prepares you for death and to banish fear of necrosis while stating reasons why we have to die.
In his essay, Montaigne claims philosophy "prepares" us to die as mortals fear their cessation. Throughout time, we have made many predictions of afterlife experiences that potentially can provide peace (Heaven, Nirvana, Valhalla, Elysium) and punishment (Hell, Hel, Tartarus), or a consolidation of both (The Veil, Limbo, Purgatory, Asphodel Meadows) to those who enter it. All of them are hypothetical theories about cessation, but none can ever be fully confirmed. People feel unsettled as they contemplate it because the lack of clues about what occurs after death, but by adjusting to the fact we will die and accept it is part of life will make us more prepared." Young and old die upon the same terms; no one departs from life" (Montaigne 124). There is no point in fearing death as it always comes to you despite age or wealth.
In Philosophy, the word "death" itself across languages, religions and social class conjures fear. Montaigne stated that" to The Romans, the word death sounded so harsh to their ears and seemed so ominous, instead of pronouncing such a one is dead, said,"Such a one has lived," or,"Such a one has ceased to live" (126). To say one has lived instead of one has died shows the fear of death affects people so much that they are afraid to say it out loud. Death has made an impression on us that scares us to the core because we desire to ignore where, when, or how we will die. If we knew when and how we would die, the world would be in the state of panic, fear, and destruction as death would be constantly surrounding us.
Humans think of death stalking humanity to remind us we are only mortals. Our loss of mortality causes us to fear death as given a choice, many of us would rather live forever. However, the consequences of immortality are worse than death as you see your entire world constantly being brought down. Family members and life goes on while the immortal stay the same for the rest of eternality." For it is impossible, she should ever be at rest or at peace within herself while she stands in fear of. So, if she once can assure herself, she may boast that it is impossible that disquiet, anxiety, or fear, or any other disturbance, should inhabit or have any place in her" (Montaigne 136).
"Cut short and put an end to all other inconveniences. But as to death, it is inevitable" (Montaigne 124) as many have tried and failed in their quest to outrun their imminent end to no avail. In ancient myths, there's a tale about an individual named Sisyphus, who defied the gods and chained Thanatos (the Greek God of Death) so no one could die. He is punished for escaping by pushing a boulder up a hill only for it to fall again for the rest of time. He was punished for escaping death; just as others who follow suit if they do the same. There is also a consequence of bringing someone back from dead as we see in the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. On the day of their wedding, Eurydice was viciously bitten by a snake, causing venom to spread throughout her body and kill her. Orpheus eventually convinced Hades and Persephone to give back Eurydice on the condition that when she is led back to the surface, he cannot look behind at her which he does. Consequences of death are often severe for the violator despite whether not they meant to avoid death. Death always wants a payment for a life as to keep the balance. Modern adaptations of this always refer to a deal made with a demon or the Devil that never turn out well for the person. There is something always altered with those that are brought back either they've lost their humanity or human characteristics. It is best for what meant to be dead to stay dead.
Montaigne mentions that when you die, someone else replaces you as the order of life is a common theme in " That to Study Philosophy is to Learn to Die". Montaigne repeatedly stated in his essay," Nature tells us to die as its part of the universal order so we must leave to let someone else take our place" (138). The universe needs to balance the scale of life and death or the world will fall into chaos due to insufficient equilibrium. In modern tales, when upsetting that balance, events happen that prove to be catastrophic such as the world ending (Armageddon), zombies, or earthquakes and cannot be stopped as they have nothing to counter them. Though,"No one has ever escaped death. And that is as it should be because Death is likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new " (Steve Jobs).
The scale between life and death is very much like the concept of Yin and Yang as they both intertwine and depend on the other to keep the balance. Life provides for death and death provides for life. Death is a way of giving new life the ability to adapt and use decaying life to energized new life. Fires that destroy portions of the forest allow for life to regrow over the years. The forest is merely living out its balance of life and death just like humans do continuously. Death matters in the world as it allows life to exceed and grow while keeping population under control. " If you have observed the revolution of my four seasons, they comprehend the infancy, the youth, the virility, and the old age of the world: the year has played his part, and knows no other art but to begin again; it will always be the same thing" (Montaigne 142).
All people experience death and will only have to one chance to live their life. We have to make the best of the time before death as we never will never regain it. "Wherever your life ends, it is all there. Make use of time while it is present with you. It depends upon your will, and not upon the number of days, to have a sufficient length of life" (Montaigne 142). Life is something we decide what do with, unlike death who gives no choices. This is why we should make all life decisions wisely as we can only make them once. It is time we cannot waste as it runs out so quickly that we are unaware it's gone until the end. The ending of life is always death, but it also makes life count while you have the time to do so. If there was life forever, and no one was dying, then nothing could move on or evolve to improve. Death is just the worlds way of improving what is already there. " Life is neither good nor evil; it is the scene of good or evil as you make it. The same your ancestors enjoyed, and that shall also entertain your posterity" (Montaigne 139). Death will follow us all our lives, but we need not fear it as it is inescapable.
Works Cited
Works, Comprising His Essays, Journey into Italy, and Letters, with Notes from All the Commentators, Biographical, and Bibliographical Notices, Etc, archive. Org/stream/workscomprising01montuoft#page/122/mode/2up.
"WISE OLD SAYINGS." Death Sayings and Death Quotes | Wise Old Sayings, www. Wiseoldsayings.com/death-quotes/.
