Khethil,

Not only does it keep one alive, it also keeps us from many a foolish enterprize. Unfortunately it sometimes keeps us from living a full life, so, as I have said before, it can be a two edged sword.

TickTockMan,

I do not agree that the fear of death does not keep you alive, I believe that is its first function. When a doctors saves your life, he does not remove the inevitable temporality of your existence, he never the less, does save your life, in that he extends the due date.

The fear of dying is the fear of ceasing to be.
Fighting it only seems like it would make for a rather unpleasant last few moments.

Gwyniviere,

Not really, how indeed does the topic of the will to grow enter into this? How could one confuse it with the fear of death?

By death I mean either the event of dying or the state of being dead.

I don't want to sound callous, I love life. I just feel that there is a needless fear of something absolutely certain to happen and without which, life would eventually become much more horrible, in my opinion. Also, not that I'm in any hurry, but when that time does arrive, I'd rather like to see what all the fuss is about...:bigsmile:

Gwyniviere,

Now you have me intrigued, how do you equate the instinct for self -preservation to the will to power? It almost seems the opposite of power, I am all ears however. The fear of death, not many people would see that as self-empowering.

If you believe in fate, as I tend to, the argument could be put forth that the doctor was only able to "save" your life by virtue of the fact that it was not yet your time to go.

And if you argue that your conception of fate impels the doctor to do the lifesaving stuff in order that you die at the correct time, then you believe in a lot more than fate -- you believe in wholesale predeterminism and have no belief in free will.

yeah, that pretty much sums it up... Yet, strangely, I feel that we need to be responsible for our actions,
and that what we do while here on this particular plane of existence
makes a difference... I never claimed to be well in the head.

And at the other end of the spectrum there is a HUGE sense of injustice and futility when someone dies prematurely. Half my job is pediatric infectious diseases, so much of what I see are children who have AIDS or some form of cancer -- and nothing is going to convince me that dying at 5 years of age should be chalked up to fate.

We may not be able to stop it, but hell, it's WORTH fighting that.

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

--Dylan Thomas

Yet, strangely, I feel that we need to be responsible for our actions,
and that what we do while here on this particular plane of existence
makes a difference.

By death I mean either the event of dying or the state of being dead. I don't see how either is especially frightening, unless you expect to go to hell or some such place, in which case I would guess your life was somewhat disagreeable as well. To fear the event itself somewhat, I can understand; I imagine it would be something like being punched extremely hard in the jaw and being knocked unconcious, depending on the sort of death you had. Of course, there are potentially horrific deaths, but I hope no one is expecting to be burned at the stake. Being dead itself seems perfectly fine to me; it is not any kind of experience. Were you uncomfortable the day your parents met?

I don't want to sound callous, I love life. I just feel that there is a needless fear of something absolutely certain to happen and without which, life would eventually become much more horrible, in my opinion. Also, not that I'm in any hurry, but when that time does arrive, I'd rather like to see what all the fuss is about...:bigsmile:

The thought of being dead 'is not what scares me. The thought of losing my identity is what scares me. Will you still be you how will you distinguish yourself from anything if there is anything were you are. Or will the countless thoughts, memories, and experiences you've gained during your lifetime cease to exist. Death is unavoidable the thought of forgetting who i am is what is some what worrying.