If you could find out exactly how you were going to die, would you?

Question

Watching Big Fish got me thinking. I think I would - then you could live life so free and confident... because you always know that isn't how you are going to die! How about you?

Answer 1

Interesting question. Finding out HOW would not necessarily tell you WHEN or WHERE - but it might. But, come to think of it, it couldn't tell you when or where, because if it did you could then avoid it and so, by definition, it would no longer be knowlege of the future. And, come to think of it again, telling you HOW might also allow you to avoid it and so, by definition, it would no longer be knowlege of the future. So, the answer to your question is that the premise of your question is only possible IF telling you how will not allow you to change the future - and that seems an unlikely possibility. So I have to conclude that the premise of your question is flawed, and, as such, it cannot be answered on its own terms.

"I can tell you how you're going to die, but if I did I'd have to kill you." :-D

Answer 2

Would you?
Some place in my reading a guru or philosopher stated that any "realized being" knows when and how they will die. Certainly the Jesus portrayed in the Bible was well aware of how and when he was to die. General reading and experience will tell you that many people, without medical problems, seem aware that there time is up. Quite common in war time.

Your question begs two issues. (1)Can we know? (2)Will our knowing change anything? You assume that you have some span of time in which to be free and confident. What if your time was up tonight?

I rephrase and answer. We can know when and how we are to die. Do you want to know? My answer is that I have considered knowing, but do not find it important. I am free without that knowledge. For me death is a matter of change and not a terminal event. Most people, who know anything about Christian teaching, died long ago.

Castaneda gives a little summary on the impeccable warrior in his struggle for change (to me death). He notes a moment will come when the human form can stand no longer, when energy fields contorted by habit are straightened out. Physical death, he notes, can take place at this point. St. Paul, a warrior in his own right, said -"I die daily."

It seems that you think that knowing the time and manner of your death would let you take certain risks you would not otherwise take ? That ability is Hollywood fiction and would not be impeccable..

Answer 3

If I had a chance of finding out how I die, I wouldn't. First of all, I am scared of dying. Second of all, thinking about when the moment is going to come will ruin my whole life, because I would spend all my time being afriad, and when the time comes, I didn't live life how I was supposed to live it.

Answer 4

Yeah! I'd have to know I'd be way too curious, I'd be thinking about it at every turn. Hopefully it'll just be in my sleep or in a hospital of old age...wishful thinking?

Plus, if I knew in avdance, and if I knew I was going to die early, I'd know to make the best of the time I had left instead of wasting it away. It would just be convenient.

Answer 5

yes. I think that if the opportunity presented itself, I would always regret not finding out. Like in Big Fish, having the freedom of the knowledge of my own death would allow me to have a lot more "risky" fun in life. Fear would disappear.

Answer 6

In reference to the Jenny/phallus question, it's an inside joke at work, please calm down. I actually do much volunteer work including raising funds to build a playground at a rural school and for S.A.F.E. I also have a sense of humor.
In answer to your question, every moment spent dwelling on dying steals one from living!!!

Answer 7

I'd rather not know. What if it were really soon or really horrible and painful? Plus, just because you don't die doesn't mean you couldn't get really hurt.

Answer 8

nah! don't want to know that, but yes, there will be a chance if I could prevent others from die like if I was going to die from aids it will be good to know so I wont infect others.

Answer 9

I would never know until I was in that situation, but I think I might. It could be very bad news though. Haha.

and I loved that movie.

Answer 10

I would be curious, but I think I would have to say no. I don't think you would think about others as much. Maybe you would just sit around feeling sorry for yourself.