Human Persons as Oriented
Towards Their Impending
Death
LESSON 15
Mr. Edward B. Noda Jr.
How does the reality of death define
our lives?
 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.
How does the reality of death define
our lives?
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.
How I should live my life before it
finally ends?
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.