IMPENDING DEATH

• I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it.” — Epictetus
• DEATH

  • the extinction and cessation of life

  • a final event, an absolute state of being dead, and part of a dying process.
• IMPENDING DEATH

  • Certainty of an early death due to illness or fatal disability.
• type of death:

  • Physical death
  • psychological death
  • Spiritual death
• PHYSICAL DEATH

  Separation between the body and the soul. The body ends, the soul continues
• PSYCHOLOGICAL DEATH

  Occurs when the dying person begins to accept death and to withdraw from others and regress into the self
• SPIRITUAL DEATH

  Separation of soul and God
• SOCRATES - “Now it is time that we are going, I to die and you to live; but no one knows who among us could have happier state except God.”
• ST. THOMAS AQUINAS -“This is my rest forever and ever: here will I dwell, for I have chosen it.”
• telos – goals, purpose and fulfillment
• Terminus – full stop/end of the line
• Factors defining death in our lives

  • self determination
  • happiness
  • suffering
• SELF- DETERMINATION

  • The capacity to choose and act for oneself
  • We always have the freedom to live or not, and challenges rise up to make us have the decision to give up or not. Death is not a goal, though the challenge is to have a meaningful life
• HAPPINESS

  • Is a state of being, not just an emotional or chosen mental attitude
  • We do not choose happiness, we choose the means to achieve happiness
• types of happiness?

  NOBLE GOOD – one is pursued for its own sake

  USEFUL GOOD – considered good as long as it serves as a mean to end.

  PLEASURABLE GOOD – good as long as it provides some form of pleasure, though iy does not have to be physical.
• SUFFERING

  • takes place when we patiently endure unpleasantness, discomfort, and pain.
• two types of suffering

  • Physical – physical sensations
  • Mental – involves emotional /mental slates