In Regards to Fear

Emi

Emi

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Unfortunately, this thread will not debate evolution. While replying, this thread will consider evolution as concrete and non-speculative. Please keep this in mind.

How much of the fear of death do you think is instinctual? all multi-cellular life can feel fear on a fundamental level. Each creature thrives to survive and pass on its genes. However, human reasoning for fearing death seems to be more developed--or is it?

Do you believe the fear of death is mostly due to human sentience or do to the instinct to survive? What is your reasoning?

If we were to talk to the only other sentient beings on the Earth, cetaceans, what do you think their reasoning for a fear of death would be? Only explain this if you know enough about these creatures.

Thank you for your thoughts!
 
In humans, I think it's learned behavior as an extension of fear of the unknown. Death denial can't help. In animals, I don't know even if they have it, beyond a survival instinct. Are there studies to indicate animals fear death?
 
Senthil said:
In humans, I think it's learned behavior as an extension of fear of the unknown. Death denial can't help. In animals, I don't know even if they have it, beyond a survival instinct. Are there studies to indicate animals fear death?
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Other than cetaceans, no, there aren't. Death is an abstract concept, and one of the known qualities of sentience is the understanding of an abstract concept. However, observed behaviors in animals shows that they hold fear in situations that may cause their death, making the fear of death or the will to survive a natural instinctual behavior. In humans, we have many reasons to fear death. I was wondering how many of these reasons may hold their origins in instinct or in sentience.
 
Instinct is a powerful force, one which I think would be foolish to deny. What are some of the reasons you believe we fear death? (I can't think of any off the top of my head.)
 
Senthil said:
Instinct is a powerful force, one which I think would be foolish to deny. What are some of the reasons you believe we fear death? (I can't think of any off the top of my head.)
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I do not know how much of our fear is instinctual or derives from our own sentience.
We fear in general things like not being remembered, not being able to witness something, worrying about the future without us, etc. These fears I believe have ties with sentience, but then there are fears such as not having children, not getting married, not seeing grandkids, etc that I believe have more instinctual roots.
 
Do you mean 'I' when you say 'we'? I ask this because I'm not drawing the same conclusions.
 
Senthil said:
Do you mean 'I' when you say 'we'? I ask this because I'm not drawing the same conclusions.
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No, I mean 'we' as the general mindset of humanity. Note that by general, I certainly do not mean anyone. But the general mindset is what makes me ask this question.

What are your beliefs of death? Why do you fear it or why do you not?
 
Emi said:
No, I mean 'we' as the general mindset of humanity. Note that by general, I certainly do not mean anyone. But the general mindset is what makes me ask this question.

What are your beliefs of death? Why do you fear it or why do you not?
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It's a transition to elsewhere and then back. (I'm a Hindu.) I have no real experience with it, obviously. The closest I came to an opportunity to observe my own mind was a heart attack. When the doc first let me know I actually had one, there was a rush of reaction ... face to face with mortality. But that calmed down over a few hours, and the consciousness became more reflective, and far calmer, in line with my belief system.

But I see what you're saying, and I think I agree for the majority of people, but I'd put my head outside of that. I think death is a joyous event ... you get a new body, YAY! It's birth that's sad. "Oh no, not this again!"
 
Senthil said:
It's a transition to elsewhere and then back. (I'm a Hindu.) I have no real experience with it, obviously. The closest I came to an opportunity to observe my own mind was a heart attack. When the doc first let me know I actually had one, there was a rush of reaction ... face to face with mortality. But that calmed down over a few hours, and the consciousness became more reflective, and far calmer, in line with my belief system.

But I see what you're saying, and I think I agree for the majority of people, but I'd put my head outside of that. I think death is a joyous event ... you get a new body, YAY! It's birth that's sad. "Oh no, not this again!"
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I myself hold a more animistic and atheistic view of death. I believe we go back into the Earth and are broken down and reused. Our divinity simply joins with another source. That is my belief. Other Havists support reincarnation though and I think it is certainly a comforting and positive belief to hold.
I thank you for sharing your experience with me. I am glad you have become more reflective and hold your faith stronger than you have before.
 
Emi said:
What are your beliefs of death? Why do you fear it or why do you not?
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I'd say the human fear of death is more a fear of the unknown than actual death. Death's inevitable. We all know it's coming. What we don't know however, is when. I think that's the unknown many fear. Not what's next. For me it's more anxiety than fear. The same anxiety I feel when starting a new project or entering unfamiliar territory. Other than that, death is just part of the natural life cycle for me.
 
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Aussie Thoughts said:
I'd say the human fear of death is more a fear of the unknown than actual death. Death's inevitable. We all know it's coming. What we don't know however, is when. I think that's the unknown many fear. Not what's next. For me it's more anxiety than fear. The same anxiety I feel when starting a new project or entering unfamiliar territory. Other than that, death is just part of the natural life cycle for me.
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For the majority of people, the fear of death tends to stem from instinctual and emotional fears. It also includes the general fear of the unknown, but that tends to be on the minor side--though not any less significant. I personally do not fear death in terms of not knowing what will happen. I welcome that.

Why do you fear the unknown, if you don't mind my asking?
 
Aussie Thoughts said:
I don't. I said I feel anxiety. That's just the way I am. Some people refer to it as butterflies.
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anxiety is related to fear and often leads to it.
There is a reason why you fear this, or have anxiety to it, you just do not know what it is yet.
 
It is the end of 'this'. We don't like change a lot....we will often take our own suffering situation because it is known....vs the unknown.

I have developed a comfort in death...lost the fear....my kids are grown...my big job is done...while I'd like to see my grandchildren... Would like to live to 125 with options for renewal... If I died tomorrow... I am OK with that...

It is others that mourn...not those that leave this plane of existence... (As far as I know)
 
wil said:
It is the end of 'this'. We don't like change a lot....we will often take our own suffering situation because it is known....vs the unknown.

I have developed a comfort in death...lost the fear....my kids are grown...my big job is done...while I'd like to see my grandchildren... Would like to live to 125 with options for renewal... If I died tomorrow... I am OK with that...

It is others that mourn...not those that leave this plane of existence... (As far as I know)
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This is true. Change is usually regarded as a terrible misfortune at first, instead of good.
That was an excellent answer. Thank you for sharing your opinions with us!
 
Emi said:
Do you believe the fear of death is mostly due to human sentience or do to the instinct to survive? What is your reasoning?
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We're born with a certain instinct for survival, but that has little to do with fearing death. In my way of thinking, fearing death is more about attachment than death itself. Basically, we just fear not being with loved ones or having to do without our possessions.
Emi said:
What are your beliefs of death? Why do you fear it or why do you not?
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For me personally I'd say I'm concerned about death, but I do not fear it. My faith tells me that death either leeds to rebirth or being with God and that brings me solace. My concerns regarding death stem from having watched helplessly as my mom suffered through her last several days and knowing how hard that was on her and her loved ones.
 
Namaste Jesus said:
We're born with a certain instinct for survival, but that has little to do with fearing death. In my way of thinking, fearing death is more about attachment than death itself. Basically, we just fear not being with loved ones or having to do without our possessions.
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What about those that fear death due to fearing the future of humanity?

For me personally I'd say I'm concerned about death, but I do not fear it. My faith tells me that death either leeds to rebirth or being with God and that brings me solace. My concerns regarding death stem from having watched helplessly as my mom suffered through her last several days and knowing how hard that was on her and her loved ones.
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Death is always hard. It's devastating quite honestly. However, thinking of things like reincarnation or heaven give a much kinder light to the entire experience. :)
 
Emi said:
Death is always hard. It's devastating quite honestly. However, thinking of things like reincarnation or heaven give a much kinder light to the entire experience.
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Hence the average age of the church goer near 60...hedging all bets....
 
Emi said:
anxiety is related to fear and often leads to it.
There is a reason why you fear this, or have anxiety to it, you just do not know what it is yet.
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With all due respect. You really don't know enough about me to make that assessment. Anxiety does not always lead to fear nor does jumping to conclusions always lead to truth.
 
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