Posted: August 17th 2010
George Locke
Is the glass half-empty?
That we all die alone is a common truism; from my perspective, it’s either meaningless or false. People even say that we’re born alone, which makes even less sense. There is no point in our lives when we are less alone than when we are connected by an umbilical cord to our mothers.
The only way to make the idea that “we die alone” coherent is to say we do everything “alone”. We get up in the morning “alone” and we take the train “alone” etc. What silliness! These are experiences I share with others, either literally, as when I’m on the train with others, or more figuratively in that there are others who take an interest in my life. I would only feel alone if nobody cared about me.
If you’re not willing to say that you get married “alone”, divesting the word “alone” of any meaning, then there’s no reason to believe that you die alone either.
Posted: August 18th 2010
Dave Hitt www
I won’t. My plan is to die celebrating my 100th birthday, and the two women I’m in bed with will be so upset they’ll drop out of college for a semester.
Check the papers in 45 years to see if my plan worked out.
Posted: August 18th 2010
Paula Kirby www
Of course. Who did you want to take with you?
Posted: August 18th 2010
logicel
In the sense, that no one else but you occupies your mind. You will emotionally and mentally face your death alone, even if others are dying along side of you. You certainly can have the supportive and caring company of others. My atheist sister certainly had that—my husband, her husband, myself, and two other friends were with her every second in the last week of her life, including the last two days when she was comatose.
In that sense, we also come into the world alone; there is only one occupant per one mind. It is important that we are encouraged to develop the mental and emotional strength to take that reality into stride before we face our deaths, and during our lives, also, so we can grasp that the world is not 'demon-haunted’ (per Sagan).
Posted: August 17th 2010
Blaise www
Only if no one’s there at the time.
Posted: August 17th 2010