Death comes to everyone. However, the thoughts and feelings of those facing death are never the same. Perhaps you, too, have considered ‘death’ seriously at least once in your life. And every time, we ask ourselves, “Why should I live?”
Philosophical reflection on death has been around as long as human history. Philosopher Camus once said, “The only serious philosophical problem is suicide.” This statement does not just question death but also presents a philosophical inquiry into the essence of living. Isn’t this the question we should truly be pondering, rather than just the problem of death?
The Myth of Sisyphus and Our Lives
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus is a figure condemned to eternal punishment. He pushes a huge boulder up a mountain, only for it to roll back down each time. Then, he must descend the mountain to push it up again. This endless cycle is excruciatingly painful and seems futile, yet Sisyphus never stops pushing the boulder.
Why is that? For Sisyphus, pushing the boulder is a struggle to avoid defeat. For him, the act of pushing the boulder was the very meaning of his life. Surviving without meaning might seem pointless, but just like Sisyphus, we continually push our boulders because that act is the essence of our lives. Finding meaning in living itself is about discovering significance even in suffering.
A Meaning of Life Greater Than Death
Humans do not know when they will die. We are all finite beings and will eventually face death. But until then, we live. Schopenhauer, often labeled as a ‘pessimistic philosopher,’ insisted on finding meaning in life. He argued that suicide could never be a solution.
There are times when life feels painful and difficult. But isn’t enduring and surviving those moments the very essence of being human? We live not merely to avoid death but to find true meaning in the process.
Reasons to Choose Life
No one knows if death has any meaning. However, during our lives, we can discover meaning through various experiences. Life may feel like the endless punishment of Sisyphus, but finding small hopes and joys within it is crucial. Isn’t that the reason we keep living?
The reason we push our boulders every day is for those small moments. The meaning we find in suffering becomes the driving force that keeps us alive.
Find the Meaning of Life
Even at this moment, someone might be pondering the boundary between life and death. But while death is inevitable, we can find meaning in life as we live. And that meaning gives us the strength to continue living.
So, to those of you who find life too painful and overwhelming, I earnestly say: don’t give up. Like Sisyphus, keep pushing your boulder, and in doing so, find small hopes. Eventually, light will come to your life.
References: Albert Camus, “The Myth of Sisyphus”