Does Death Define Us free essay sample

Non-philosophical source: In the science fiction film Avatar directed by James Cameron, Jake Sully, a paraplegic former marine, replaces his brother for the avatar project on Pandora, where humans are milling for a valuable mineral, unbootable. However, there Is a group of Inhabitants called Naval who are forced to fight against human Invaders because they were trying to assimilate them and deprive their harmony life with nature. Initially, Jake and his avatar is ordered to understand and learn from those native Naive and provide information to human about Naives home tree which located n the richest deposits of niobium for hundreds of miles. But after the failure of diplomatic solution for the Nava to move, Colonel Miles Charity, the leader of Roads private security force, began to destroy Naves home tree forcefully. Jake and other scientists of the avatar project are disgusted with Charitys brutal methods, fly to an avatar link outpost and help the natives to fight and defend their homeland, with support from a pilot, Trudy Coach ¶n. In the final battle, Colonel Miles Quarrels Is killed and Naval won the war but suffered heavy casualties Including the new clan chief and he greatest warrior, Tutees and the pilot, Trudy Coach?n. Eventually, with the exception of Jack and few other scientists who helped Naval In the fight, all humans are expelled from Pandora. Philosophical essay: The question does death define us? must be clarified and explained before arguing the question itself.The term define means to find either unique properties which can separate this object from every other object or combination of properties that make the object unique. For example, when we define a square, we say a square is a shape that has four equal sides and four right angles. Those are defining properties of square because no other shapes have the same combination of properties; and this combination makes the square unique and distinguishable from any other shape. However, If there are only four equal sides or only four right angles, they cannot define a square since they are only part of the combination.Thus when we define something, we mean to find out all of the distinguishing characteristics one object has and separate these properties from any other objects; or to find a unique property which is enough to make an object distinguishable. Secondly, the word us has three potential definitions: individual human being, human beings as a whole, and all living things including human beings, animals, plants, bacteria and etc. It cannot include non-living things because it doesnt make any sense to associate death with non-living things since they cannot die.Thus us has to refer to living things at least, whether Its general or specific. For the first definition of us, which Is Individual human being, death cannot define us because It cannot separate or dullnesss one Individual from another, which Is clearly against the meaning of define, on the basis that every Individual Is different. If everyone is not, then does it mean that everyone suppose to act, think But in reality, thats not the case. Consider Colonel Miles Charity and pilot Trudy Coach ¶n, they are different in gender, in beliefs and in who they supported although they all die eventually.Can one say they are same persons based on their similarity death, regardless of the differences listed above? Unlikely, otherwise they will act, think in same way and they wouldnt support different groups of people. Thus, every individual has to be different in one way or another, which makes differences exist. Because death is universal to everyone, it is not a defining characteristic of an individual based on the definition of define; in other words, death cannot de fine The second definition of us is human beings in general human beings, where the question becomes: does death distinguish human beings from other species?By similar reasoning, the answer is no here, since all living species on earth are mortal, and death is only one ultimate ending to all living things; death, therefore, cannot extinguish human beings from all other living species. Theres definite a distinction between human beings and other living species such as animals and plants, but death is not the one. Back to my non-philosophy source, the Nava clan leader Tutees and Colonel Miles Charity both died at the end, but is the death that distinguishes those two species?Not really because Tsetse is alien, he can live in the environment of Pandora; whereas Colonel Miles Charity cannot without his oxygen mask. By the definition of define, this is a difference between human beings and Nava, a unique laity which can independently define or distinguish human beings from Nava. Since death does not include this unique quality, it cannot define us in this case. The third potential definition of us could be all living things, including human beings, animals, plants, bacteria, and basically any life form that exists.And in this situation, death can be the unique distinction between living species and non-living things. However, that is the case only if all living things are mortal. What if the technology is advanced enough so that no one could die? Scientists already found hat the reason we get ol der is because the chromosomes at the end of cell gets shorter every time when it duplicates. If we can manually keep the length of chromosomes, we are expected to live much longer and eventually, live infinitely long.Although it seems weird, it is possible. And death will no longer exist if the above is true. Thus death will no longer be able to define us since the concept, death, may not exist. The problem of infinity where everyone will be exactly the same since they will all have same experience does not exist here under the definition of us, cause us is defined as all living things here, whether they are the same or not; as long as they can live forever, the question does death define us is basically nonsense to ask.However, there are oppositions to my argument under different concepts of us. First of all, when us is defined as individuals of human beings, one could argue that death is the only reason that motivates everyone to work, to live and to progress. For instance, during high school, students will enjoy their life as much as they can, because eventually it will end; or they will study as hard as they can, because eventually theyll need to get into university. In university, students will do the same, except the purpose to study is to get a decent career.During ones career, they will saying that everything we do is defined by the fact that we will eventually die, thus we should do everything we need before its too late. Admittedly, I agree with the fact that death can motivate us to some extent. However, is it the case that everything we do is defined by the fact that we will eventually die? Say I will eat an ice-cream today aftershock; am I thinking if I miss this ice-cream, I will regret when I die? Normally people dont think that way. Such insignificant things we do all the time are not considered to be defined by death, because without those things, the effect is negligible.Secondly, back to my argument for first definition o f us, everyone is doing different things during their lifetime even those things are all motivated by death. But death is same for everyone, it is universal. Thus why an universal property can motivate or cause different behaviors and actions for different people? In reality, people pursue different career, do different things and behave differently. Then hats the cause for all of those differences? Is the answer death? Unlikely because death is same for everyone; it cannot be the reason or explanation for all of the differences between individuals.Based on the definition of define, the combination of properties that distinguish one individual from another is not solely death since there has to be some other characteristics or properties that can determine a person other than death. Thus death cannot define us; it is a part of the combination of properties at most. Another opposition is by saying that life is only a small tiny bit of peoples entire existence; it is in death that they will be infinite and either go to heaven or hell for instance. Thus death is essential and defines us for o ur after life, which is infinite compare to lifetime. However, after death, people will not be the same, either they will be rewarded or punished according to most religions. But what causes these differences, namely reward and punishment? The action of death does not determine that, its only a starting point where you will be Judged. But Judgment itself is determined by peoples behaviors during lifetime for most religions. Death is essential here because it is when people will be Judged; but since death is neither the combination of properties nor the only unique property to determine individuals afterlife, it cannot define us based on definition of define.For second and third definition of us, there are no strong counter arguments since all counter arguments are based on the fact that we will die eventually. But if human beings alone (for second definition of us) or all species on earth (for third definition of us) can live forever by advanced technology which is possible, then the question whether death can define us or not immediate ly becomes meaningless, since there will be no death at all. And the problem of individuality can be avoided in these two situations because us is defined as a group of people or species. For second definition of us, people will be the same if time is infinite, but they are still people; they will never have experiences to be animals. Human beings have the power and technology to make human beings immortal, but not the animals. Thus the consequence is that people will never die, but all other species will. Therefore, death can potentially define all other species on earth, but not human beings, which is against the second definition of us.For third definition, all living things will be immortal, but they are at same time, living forever. Thus they will be distinctive from species will die and the question whether death can define us or not is nonsense. Whereas for first definition of us this argument wont work because of the problem of individuality; people will be assimilated through time since they will eventually have same experience. In conclusion, death cannot define us no matter which definition of us we adopt.There are no strong counter arguments that can defeat arguments which Justify that death cannot define us under one or more definition of us. However, there could be other potential arguments that are stronger as opposition by changing the definition of define for instance. But within this essay, the overall strength of arguments for death cannot define us is much stronger than arguments against it. Thus the answer death cannot define us to the original question is a more reasonable and convincing conclusion here.