The Importance of Death in Living a Good Life

In today's world, where people are obsessed with living forever and achieving immortality, it's easy to overlook the importance of death. However, death is an integral part of life, and ignoring its presence can lead us astray from what truly matters.

Bryan Johnson, a tech mogul who's been dubbed as the "new Steve Jobs," recently wrote that "the coolest question in existence right now is exploring if we are the first generation to not die." While this question might seem interesting, it's a misguided focus. The real question should be: how can we live a good life?

Death is often seen as an inevitable part of life, but it's also a valuable teacher that can help us appreciate the present moment. By facing our mortality, we can gain clarity, perspective, and wisdom that can guide us in making meaningful choices.

The ancient Stoics understood this concept well. As Seneca put it, "It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live." They believed that by acknowledging and accepting our own mortality, we could break free from the constraints of fear and anxiety and live more fully.

Michel de Montaigne, another influential philosopher, wrote, "To begin depriving death of its greatest advantage over us...let us frequent it, let us get used to it." By becoming familiar with death, we can lose its power to dominate our lives. Instead, we can focus on living in the present moment, free from the fear of what's next.

Death is not just a physical event; it's also a spiritual one. In Buddhism, the transient nature of life is recognized as an essential part of existence. The "maranasati" meditation helps us to cultivate awareness of death and the impermanence of all things, leading to a deeper appreciation for the present moment.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a renowned psychiatrist, called death the key to the door of life. She believed that when we deny death's presence in our lives, it becomes too easy to postpone the important decisions and actions that make life worth living.

The existentialist philosopher Martin Heidegger wrote, "Death opens up the question of being." By facing our mortality, we can explore the biggest mystery of all: what it means to be alive. This inquiry is not just about our own existence but also about our place in the world and our responsibility to make a positive impact.

Love is the answer to this existential question. As Kai-Fu Lee, an AI pioneer, discovered after being diagnosed with stage IV lymphoma, love is what gives life meaning and makes it worth living. When we connect with ourselves, others, and something larger than ourselves, we experience a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

So, let's focus on exploring the question: how can we live a good life? Let's embrace death as a part of our lives, rather than trying to escape or deny it. By doing so, we can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the present moment, connect with others on a more meaningful level, and make choices that truly matter.