Yesterday Joan asked me this question to which I have no answer (yet): What is the purpose of death? Her question was a response to my comments during yesterday’s hospital visit. I never even realised that her question is the reverse of the question which I did answer: What is the purpose of life. See my 26 July 2015 blog “Our individual purpose” and my 21 July 2015 blog “Why we are here”.
From a theoretical perspective, this answer is probably already a “Not Applicable”. For arguments, please refer to my 8 July 2015 blog on “Transhumanism and Evolution” and also to my 27 March 2016 blog on “Ageing, rejuvenation, regeneration and immortality”.
From a medical perspective, life expectancy is likely to increase as a result of changes in lifestyle and further breakthroughs in science and technology.
I doubt this impact has been accounted for. See my 25 May 2016 blog: Tipping point: Technological Revolution 1800-2100 (4).
From a religious perspective, life on Earth is sometimes viewed as a lobby (eg, hospital, hotel) for the real thing: Heaven. Unfortunately, that perspective is also the reason for some people for not living in the present and waiting for their future.
From a biological perspective, one could argue that the purpose of death is making room for new and improved versions of life. The survival of the fittest on an individual level.
From a chemical perspective, the answer might be “ashes to ashes, dust to dust”. Excerpt from my 2 January 2016 blog: “Everything we are and everything in the universe and on Earth originated from stardust, and it continually floats through us even today. It directly connects us to the universe, rebuilding our bodies over and again over our lifetimes”. Quote from Iris Schrijver, professor of pathology at Stanford University.
From a nihilistic approach, the obvious reply would be “None”. Wiki: “Nihilism (from the Latin nihil, nothing) is a philosophical doctrine that suggests the lack of belief in one or more reputedly meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism, which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value”.
From a statistical point of view, it might just be “bad luck”: your number is up!
I think, feel and believe that the answer has something to do with consciousness (NL: bewustzijn). Wiki: “Consciousness is the state or quality of awareness, or, of being aware of an external object or something within oneself”.
The question (in the title of this blog) is mostly of a philosophical nature. To be continued.
Soul II Soul – What’s the Meaning (1990) – artists, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
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