KmF+3g~#s
According to the German philosopher Martin Heidegger,death has two defining characteristics.
z[+p N:47
First, it can't be outsourced - nobody can die your death for you. The second raises more Qm v8T
^+
questions. Heidegger says death can happen at any point, so it's randon. But with advances in 8
=3#S'n
genetics, knowing the date of our decease is becoming a real possibility. And is that good? zW95qxXg
Imagine going about your business with your expiry date stamped invisibly on the back of your d$D3iv^hyx
hand. You'd probably be spooked by this constant reminder of your mortality. You'd find it >y@3`u]
impossible to live. You'd pass your days in envy of those your age who are destined to live longer. tdi}P/x
Alternatively, you could treat the date-stamp as an end date from which to work back. It would DQ6pe)E|
make retirement planning and the gubbins of wills and probate smoother. It would allow you to "y .(E7 6
take an active part in organising your own funeral. You could even plan your diet: death tomorrow }WNgKw
means an awful lot of jam today. And your loved ones would have the benefit of a steady coming-to- (aq^\#9btO
terms with your passing away. 7&dPrnQX=
But Heidegger's point is, even if geneticists, extrapolating from your current condition(s), gave <ot%>\C
you a reliable date of death, they'd fail to account for chance. Just as teenagers can crash their fJ-8$w\uL
cars, so pensioners as dit as a fiddle can still fall down the stairs. So what's the lesson? Imagine M)nf(jw#G
you're programmed to die tomorrow, and live today as if it were your last. !\Q/~p'jS
Robert Rowland Smith oH
[-fF
