"If some persons died, and others did not die, death would be a terrible affliction"
- Jean de la Bruyere
About this Quote
Jean de la Bruyère's quote, "If some persons died, and others did not pass away, death would be a dreadful affliction," provides a thought-provoking reflection on the nature of mortality and its function in the human experience. By thinking about a hypothetical situation where only some individuals go through death while others stay immortal, de la Bruyère welcomes us to look into the philosophical implications of such a situation.
The universality of death is one of its specifying qualities, making it a shared destiny that binds all of humanity. This shared fate is a fundamental aspect of human presence, encouraging compassion and solidarity among individuals, as everyone will eventually face the exact same end. In de la Bruyère's hypothetical world, where death selectively impacts just some people, the balance is disturbed. Rather of being a unifying force, death would end up being a divisive and approximate condition, packed with unfairness and jealousy. The never-ceasing beings may look at the departed or those doomed to pass away with pity or disdain, potentially resulting in a social rift between the mortal and immortal.
Additionally, the selective nature of death in this situation could intensify fear and anxiety, as the unpredictability of who will be spared or chosen to pass away would loom big over human existence. The randomness of mortality would make life vulnerable and unpredictable, changing death from a natural part of life into a cruel lottery game. This might lead those doomed to die to experience suffering over their eventual death, while the immortal may cope with the fear of enjoyed ones being taken from them suddenly.
Furthermore, immortality itself might become a problem without the natural endpoint that death offers. The limited nature of life gives room for seriousness, motivation, and meaning. Often, an awareness of life's brevity influences human beings to treasure moments, pursue accomplishments, and treasure relationships. Without this finitude, the immortal people may deal with ennui and lose gratitude for life's transient beauty.
In essence, de la Bruyère's quote emphasizes the function death plays in promoting equality and significance in human life. By providing a world where death is not universal, he illustrates how it could end up being an unbearable concern, disrupting the consistency and shared understanding that bind individuals together.
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