Fearing a Time When We Can No Longer Fear

by Roberta Ness

Embracing the unknown

Come in from that frigid wind. Your cheeks are so red and your hands so cold. I’m keeping it nice and cozy here so in no time, you should be able to peel off that down coat and get down to the icy subject of today’s discussion: Why the topic of death is so forbidden? Why have you and I been so unable to talk about it? Let me hold your hand. Are you ready?

The paradox of contemplating non-existence

I think a reason why you and I have such trouble discussing death is that talking about it means contemplating it – forcing us to think about the existential terror of non-existence. Life is simply too valuable to lose – you would do almost anything to hold onto it, to maximize it – right? Isn’t it the thirst to experience everything to its utmost that made Faust bargain with the devil?