[MD] The MOQ and Death

[John Carl]

Steve,

I wanted to respond along the lines of your specific query, rather than
simply my mere pleasure at your question, I oughta answer it, best I can.

On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 8:51 AM, Steven Peterson <peterson.steve at gmail.com>wrote:


> What does the MOQ have to say about this "fundamental paradox"? Is
> fear of death necessary, or can it be transcended?
>
>

I have a bit more to say on the matter than giving the MoQ perspective, but
a fundamental belief in Quality leads me to think that the fact I'm right
here, right now is because it's a good idea.  If and when I'm gone, that's
good too.  I think the metaphysics of Quality helps one not worry so much
about oneself, because you're freed from believing so fiercely in this self.
 From being so attached to it.

There's more tho, in my Q'm" - self is, in essence a potentially deep and
complex sign that can grow richer in meaning infinitely.  Peirce captures
this aspect of self as a "process of interpretation" when he writes "No son
of Adam has ever fully manifested what there was in him."   A.N Whitehead
furthers the point with all philosophy being "footnotes to Plato".  Through
an ongoing dialogue, Plato's patterns continue.

Thus who I am or was as a person is an open-ended matter; it is a matter of
time, context, and history.  Joseph Margolis provides a nice summary of my
notion of self as open-ended when he writes,"Once admit that persons are
texts, have or are histories themselves; it becomes quite impossible to fix
the ontological or intentional closure of their careers and natures--even
after their physical death."

Margolis, Texts Without Reference

Becker takes this fear to be fundamental and necessary, but his
> conclusions seems to follow from an ontological distinction between
> mind and body. There is a fundamental paradox that can't be resolved
> because our symbolic self is forever alienated from our mortal bodies.
> Since the MOQ  disolves this ontological distinction, the MOQ may
> offer some insights which Becker, with his SOM assumption, may have
> overlooked overlooked.
>
> I would love to hear what thoughts you may have on that idea since I
> don't have much insight to offer myself, and I fear that I will die
> some day.
>
> Best,
> Steve


 And to you Steve,


John