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According to the German philosopher Martin Heidegger,death has two defining characteristics. 7^h*rL9
First, it can't be outsourced - nobody can die your death for you. The second raises more d[ce3':z
questions. Heidegger says death can happen at any point, so it's randon. But with advances in ??P> HVx
genetics, knowing the date of our decease is becoming a real possibility. And is that good? V4%7Xj
Imagine going about your business with your expiry date stamped invisibly on the back of your bgmOX&`G
hand. You'd probably be spooked by this constant reminder of your mortality. You'd find it Bq85g5Dc
impossible to live. You'd pass your days in envy of those your age who are destined to live longer. n]wZ7z
Alternatively, you could treat the date-stamp as an end date from which to work back. It would w:9n/[
make retirement planning and the gubbins of wills and probate smoother. It would allow you to xkz`is77Y@
take an active part in organising your own funeral. You could even plan your diet: death tomorrow j 2J ew
means an awful lot of jam today. And your loved ones would have the benefit of a steady coming-to- Bq \WG=
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terms with your passing away. Fw"x4w
But Heidegger's point is, even if geneticists, extrapolating from your current condition(s), gave _3_o/I
you a reliable date of death, they'd fail to account for chance. Just as teenagers can crash their jATN):8W
cars, so pensioners as dit as a fiddle can still fall down the stairs. So what's the lesson? Imagine -EU~
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you're programmed to die tomorrow, and live today as if it were your last. !z?:Y#P3
Robert Rowland Smith B|BJkY'
