Argumentative Essay

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I Would Want to Live Forever
Being alive is a good thing. It allows one to do things and experiences that inorganic matter or a dead person cannot experience. Death, on the other hand, is the end of life. A dead person has no feelings, experiences or expectations. Life has a meaning which every individual is at liberty to define. Some individuals, however, the loose meaning of life and have no purpose or sense of direction. They could be described as alive while dead. This is a state of losing meaning in life. The state of being dead is rather disturbing to me. Simply because of the fear of the unknown with what happens after I die being a puzzle. The state of being dead in my view is of no consequences on its own, but it is unfortunate because it prevents one from enjoying experiences of being alive.
Susan Wolf seeks to establish the truth of human life. She concludes that life has to mean in her concept of the meaningfulness of life. Wolf views life in the concept of meaningfulness. She argues that there are things that we do out of love but not for ourselves. She is in the view that being in pursuant to other people’s interests rather than our own gives life meaning. Her views on life have meaning when we have a love for something that is outside ourselves. This may include active engagement with something that we love or actions we enjoy being part of. She, however, argues that we may love something that deserves not, thus rendering life meaningless.

To find the meaning in life subjective attraction has to meet with objective attraction. A meaningful life is the one that would not be viewed as pointless. In Wolf’s view, life has meaning if the individual living it would admire or be proud of the way they lead it. She argues that even if life the question of the meaning of life is easy to answer there is the question of whether individuals live a meaningful life. Wolf views meaningful life as one that is actively involved in projects of positive value to others. To her, a meaningful life must be one of the activities. The positive value must not be moral value. The meaning of life is achieved once an individual realizes that they are a small part of value filled world (Wolf, 207).
Thomas Nagel seeks to find out if death is or not harmful to a human being. He concludes that death is an unfortunate occurrence in a human’s life. Nagel argues that death is bad because of is nature of being permanent end of our existence. It is in his view that that death deprives us more life. If we were to put the experiences of life aside, life itself would still be a good thing. He argues that life is good as it allows us conscious ability to experience and appreciate gifts of life. Death is bad because it denies us these experiences, whereas the state of being dead on its own may not be bad for us. Nagel argues that death is a bad experience even to those who believe in eternal life. He puts across an example of a man who dies aged 32 years. He has dreams, ambitions, and goals in life which are cut short by death. This is a terrible misfortune. The same way a man who lives to 92 years has had more experiences in life and was able to accomplish more in life. Still, death to him is a terrible experience because they still had goals in life (Nagel, 208).
I would personally want to live forever. Borrowing from Nagel arguments death is an awful tragedy. It would deprive me of experiences of life. It is by itself a permanent state which is irreversible. Though after I am dead, the state may not harm me, it denies me experiences of life. Death would certainly deprive me the ability to enjoy life which on its own is a good experience even without considering experiences. Death would deprive me the ability to accomplish set goals in life permanently. Although life may feel not worthwhile living today, that situation is not permanent and would change into a pleasant experience. However, death is so unfortunate because it is an irreversible state. Believing in life after death does not alter the state of death is an unfortunate occurrence. I would, therefore, wish to live forever because life in itself is a good experience
Finding the meaning of according to Wolf will include love for others and activities that outside myself. I have already found this meaning in life by loving and caring for others beyond myself. I would, therefore, wish to live forever to continue caring and leading a life I would be proud of. Life has moral aspects, which means doing the right thing. This I have been able to comprehend on my own. Life is fulfilling when one actively engages in what they love. I have found activities that I love. Some of them include charity work, sports and meeting new friends. I have realized that I am a small piece of the world and others exist for a reason. I have also learned to engage in objective projects that add value to others. I have also found meaning in life by leading a morally upright life. This adds meaning to my life triggering the urge to want to live forever.
Conclusion
The state of being alive is a good experience on its own. Being alive is an opportunity to achieve personal goals and experience life. Death, on the other hand, is an unfortunate state which is permanent. One may believe in life after death, but that doesn’t change the fact that death deprives one opportunity that comes with being alive. Life comes with finding the meaning of life. Wolf views meaning in life as the state of feeling good and being proud of how one leads his or her life. She argues that life has meaning when one finds pleasure in doing things they like and showing love for others. In her view, only objects that deserve to be loved should be loved. On the other hand, Nagel is adamant that death is a bad thing as it denies one life experiences. Though the state of being dead may not hurt, it denies one opportunity that come with being alive. The state of being alive would add value to others too. It is in these arguments that I would want to live forever.
Work Cited
Nagel, Thomas. “Birth, Death, and the Meaning of Life,’’.” The view from nowhere. Oxford
University Press, New York (1986): 208-31.
Wolf, Susan. “Happiness and meaning: Two aspects of the good life.” Social Philosophy andPolicy 14.1 (1997): 207-225.