Email Service Notes (Jacob)

Your Original Email

Everyone will someday die. According to some psychologists, this uncomfortable truth constantly lurks in the back of our minds and ultimately drives decision we make, from choosing to eat vegetables to motivating us to get married and have children. For healthy people, the influence of death only affect them a subconscious level. Because most of the time, we cope by focusing on the things more directly in front of us.

What if we all suddenly were told the exact date and means of our deaths? Before I read any research about this topic, I would assume that considering this question may help us think about our motivations as individuals and how to best spend our limited time on this society. In other words, it may have some positive effects. However, researches jump into different conclusions. According to researches, we may treat those who are similar to us in looks, political slant, and geographic origin more favourably. We also become more nihilistic, drinking, smoking, shopping and eating in excess. Our society will become more racist, violent, self-harming and environmentally destructive than it already is. So it seems lucky for us that we don’t really know when we will die.

Your Edited Email

Everyone will die someday. According to some psychologists, this uncomfortable truth constantly lurks in the back of our minds and ultimately drives the decisions we make, from choosing to eat vegetables to motivating us to get married and have children. For healthy people, the influence of death only affects them at a subconscious level. Because most of the time, we cope by focusing on the things more directly in front of us.

What if we all of a suddenly were told the exact date and means of our deaths? Before I read any research about this topic, I would assume that considering this question may help us think about our motivations as individuals and how to best spend our limited time in society (1. see below). In other words, it may have some positive effects. However, researchers jump into a different conclusions. According to researchers, we may treat those who are similar to us in looks, political slant, and geographic origin more favourably. We also become more nihilistic, drinking, smoking, shopping and eating in excess. Our society will become more racist, violent, self-harming/self-destructive and environmentally destructive than it already is. So it seems lucky for us that we don’t really know when we will die.

• 1. On this planet / in society

Question to think about as a possible discussion next class: The theory of time as a linear motion, simply finding out when I was supposed to die would affect the timeline and change the future including my time of death. Do you believe this?

Edited by Jacob @ SE