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Originally Posted by coberst
What are we afraid of?
I think that these forums offer a great opportunity for practicing our writing skills. Do you agree? Is writing in your wallet?
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Uh huh.
I think these forums can offer a great opportunity for practicing writing skills. That is, if allowed to. So far, I feel the experience is more of a practice in critical thinking skills. One doesn't need to be writing or 'participating' for critical thinking to be occurring.
There is, what feels like overwhelming amounts of information in OP for me to respond to that I am (or perhaps was) at loss of where to start, where to go from. It also showed up to me as a bit preachy, but let's say that is just my personal and current filter at work.
In terms of "what are we afraid of" well I like what this thread has touched upon already. But before jumping into that, I would respond with my own take. Though a bit cliche, I think we are afraid of fear (itself). I think it is a phenomenon, but one that I believe to be metaphysical, or not tied in (exclusively) with materialistic causation.
I see fear and caution confused often. Caution is a raising of the guard and is what repels us from something or someone. In both my opinion and my experience, fear is like a temptation, it can draw one into it's grasp. I hasten to say that fear attracts, even while philosophically I don't agree with that proposition. Fear can be like a thrill ride, we may not wish it on our best friend, and yet it's no secret that sometimes we can't get enough of it.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by coberst
Suppose that we were placed on a platform high above the ground and were required to live there. And suppose that there were no guard rails on the boundary of the platform.
Do you think that this might be a useful imagination to help us understand these matters?
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Yes. Though like anything on a science forum, I might have umpteen hundred questions or comments that could detract from the gist of what is being purported.
I'm currently under the strong impression that I dream every single sleep cycle. I don't know how unique that is, but persons in my circle of relationships tell me that they do not dream all that often. While I might not remember all of my night dreams (likely remember less than 5%), I do recall daily that I have such dreams. Why do I bring this up? That's a very good question. See, I would say a recurring night dream I have has to do with heights and helplessness (or vulnerability) when up on high. On hindsight, the anxiety I feel from being placed in such circumstances, seems childish or unfounded. But within the dream world, it seems 'normal' or what I would say is typical.
If I was placed on this hypothetical platform of which you inquire about, direction of my observation(s) would make all the difference. If I looked up (only), I believe I would not be fearful. And if I maintained that disposition, I could see me fooling myself into saying this is no different than if I were at sea level. If I looked around me in the vicinity of parallel (or is it perpendicular?) to my eye level, I think I would be concerned or cautious. "What? I only get this small space from which to live on? Okay, I'll make due, but let it be noted that I think life sucks." And if I peered over the side and looked down, I feel it is very likely that a) I would fill high anxiety / fear and b) I would long to jump off. If my night dreams are any indication, I would jump off sooner than later. And I would wake into comfortable reality before I hit the ground. Empirically speaking, of course.
I don't think death is that which we fear the most, or at base level. I think it is related to death, but is more along lines that we fear not going on, and since we don't know, or pretend like we don't know, we have angst over what we understand to be inevitable.
I've held the hand of a person who was passing away. In the moment of the passing, I cried like a little school girl. Uncontrollably and with sadness I felt overwhelmed me. But prior to the passing, and within 10 minutes of it, I felt enormous joy and peace. To this moment, I am convinced that death is joyous event, even while I will pretend also that I have no idea what the heck happens to me / us at that moment.
I truly enjoyed (re)reading Pamela's entry on personal story (Ch.19). I think there is at least one other way of relaying that story where it is not at all an enjoyable read, and is far more in category of "life sucks." My hypothesis from reading the story is that the "thought that entered the mind" before the collision is along lines of defense mechanism. But IMO, that is sorely minimizing what the effect of that mechanism invoked. Because, I would say shear terror is the typical behavior in that circumstance, and yet, even that (feeling of terror) is a defense mechanism, a la bracing for inevitable pain. My deeper hypothesis on the "thought that entered" would be of the metaphysical variety. It makes clear sense to me. But since I am on science forum, I shall restrict such commentary.
Anyway, great topic and thanks for allowing me to contribute both as writer and reader.
-Jway
