Mortality and double
consciousness.
We human beings are in constant quest for the
meaning. I would propose that the meaning of our existence and our life is only
given in the contrast with nothingness, our mortality. What brought me to this
understanding is Irwin Hoffman’s work (Ritual and Spontaneity, 1998).
According to Hoffman, the issue of mortality is everywhere in the very thinking and using language in our life. Abstract thinking implies the issue of mortality. Abstract concept presupposes the notion of infinity (the notion of “chair” connotes this black chair, that red chair, this old chair, that new chair…. any chair whatsoever). By the same token, our lives are against the background of infinity. Our mortality and instantaneity of our lives are in contrast with the infinite duration and existence of the universe.
In his essay "On Transience"(1916), Freud demonstrated a perspective on mortality which is quite relevant to our discussion of “unknowable”. Freud contrasts the attitude of the “friend and the poet”, with his own stance. For the formers, perhaps the transience of beauty things diminishes their worth. It is quite understandable that the artists want their works to be preserved as they are forever. However, for Freud their worth is increased because "transience value is scarcity value in time"(p.305) . They are even more beautiful as they don’t last forever. Here, Freud mentions the "foretaste of mourning"(p.306) in considering the transience of loved objects. According to Hoffman, Freud in this context indirectly talked about the impact of the individual's anticipation of his or her own death which in turn add to the value of his/her life. (RS 48).
According to Hoffman, the issue of mortality is everywhere in the very thinking and using language in our life. Abstract thinking implies the issue of mortality. Abstract concept presupposes the notion of infinity (the notion of “chair” connotes this black chair, that red chair, this old chair, that new chair…. any chair whatsoever). By the same token, our lives are against the background of infinity. Our mortality and instantaneity of our lives are in contrast with the infinite duration and existence of the universe.
In his essay "On Transience"(1916), Freud demonstrated a perspective on mortality which is quite relevant to our discussion of “unknowable”. Freud contrasts the attitude of the “friend and the poet”, with his own stance. For the formers, perhaps the transience of beauty things diminishes their worth. It is quite understandable that the artists want their works to be preserved as they are forever. However, for Freud their worth is increased because "transience value is scarcity value in time"(p.305) . They are even more beautiful as they don’t last forever. Here, Freud mentions the "foretaste of mourning"(p.306) in considering the transience of loved objects. According to Hoffman, Freud in this context indirectly talked about the impact of the individual's anticipation of his or her own death which in turn add to the value of his/her life. (RS 48).
As I suggested in my article “Mortality and
Morita Therapy” (2018), we might need to “internalize our mortality via having a
sort of “double consciousness” in order to make our limited life more
meaningful and valuable. The double consciousness implies a coexistence of a level
of experiencing what you are now involved with another level of consciousness
with the awareness that you lose everything when you die and what is happening
is just transient. If this double consciousness does not work, it only spoils the
joy of your life. If you are successful, however, you become even more grateful
to God (or whoever) for what you have and realize how lucky you are. Your life
could be enriched by what Freud called "foretaste of mourning".
