Human Persons as Oriented

Towards Their Impending

Death
 Death is commonly understood as the end of bodily
functions which signals the end of a person’s life.
 It also refers to the separation of the body and the
spirit.
 The body, being material, is bound by laws of time and
space and is subject to growth, death, and decay.
OBJECTIVES


We are born into human life, we grow and age, and we
eventually die. This paradox defines the uniqueness of
human existence.
How does the reality of death define our lives?

We must embrace the fact that death is an

integral part of our life.
Acceptance of our temporality can give us a
clearer purpose and focus on our activities.
How I should live my life before it finally ends?
• Self-determination is the capacity to choose and act for
oneself. A person can still exercise freedom in choosing
how to face the reality of death in their lives.
• We can choose to spend our lives doing good and
reasonable things. The person is the author and
protagonist who determines the development and
conclusion of his/ her story.
• What is the end of this life?
1. Terminus which means the full stop or end of a line. For
them, life ends and nothing follows.
2. Telos which means “goal, purpose, or fulfillment”.
• Death is not the goal of life

• Man is put on this earth to live a meaningful life, to be

virtuous and achieve excellence
• We can look at two experiences which make us reflect
on the meaning of life: happiness and suffering.
 What makes you happy?

Ancient Greek philosophy considers happiness as an

achievement and must be gained by living a productive and
moral life.
Happiness is a “whole-life satisfaction” based on our
evaluation of our overall life experiences.
Happiness is a state of being and not merely an emotional
experience or a chosen mental attitude.
 The goods or sources of happiness
Noble good is one which is pursued for its own sake; it is good in
itself (Examples: love & friendship)
Useful good is considered good so long as it serves as a means to
an end; its goodness is found only from what it can provide
(Example: money)
Pleasurable good is good so long as it provides some form of
pleasure, though it does not have to be physical (Netflix
subscription, Mobile Legends)

Real happiness can be found in more permanent and

meaningful things.
Why do we suffer?

Suffering takes place when we patiently endure

unpleasantness, discomfort, and pain
It may come from:
1. Physical suffering (discomfort, hunger, distress, &
pain)
2. Mental suffering (depression, anxiety, fear, loneliness & grief)
Sufferings are necessary, without it, we are unable to grow and
improve.
Remember that difficulties are not without reason
How do happiness, suffering, and death give meaning
to your life?

 The pursuit of happiness requires that we go through the effort to

achieve it. Efforts are often marked by difficulties and
discouragement.

The reality of death means that our existence is unique and that
we will not always get another chance to do the things we want in
this life. Therefore, we should not easily give up on the pursuit of
good things.
 How do happiness, suffering, and
death give meaning to your life?

Reflecting on the reality of death enables us to think of how we

can best live a meaningful life.
We can strive to leave behind a legacy either in the form of an
inheritance, a reputation, or a significant achievement.
Because of our freedom, how we choose to live our lives is
entirely up to us.
Life is a gift given to each person and it is important to turn this
life into a gift for others as well.