Why does Bernard Williams say that immortality would be undesirable?
Conclusion Bernard Williams was something of an “immortality curmudgeon.” He argued for the view that no immortal human life would be worth living. Others argue that, without death to give us a deadline to finish our projects, we wouldn’t feel motivated to do anything, and lead lives full of apathy and indifference.
Is immortality desirable?
It is very natural to think that immortality is desirable; after all, we certainly act as though we want to avoid death, and, if we want to avoid death, it must be because we want to stay alive. First, he considers some famous arguments by Lucretius for the conclusion that death is nothing to fear.
What is a categorical desire?
Categorical desires are desires that are not conditional upon one being alive; yet provide reason for the agent to continue living to ensure that those very desires are satisfied.
What are self exhausting pleasures?
Self-exhausting pleasures are pleasant things that a person would be satisfied with doing just once (or perhaps a few times)
What is immortality of soul?
In many philosophical and religious traditions, immortality is specifically conceived as the continued existence of an immaterial soul or mind beyond the physical death of the body. …
What is a conditional desire?
Williams contrasts: Conditional desires: desires I have for something, if some condition or other holds. Categorical desires: desires for things that I want unconditionally. I have some categorical desires for my life: I want to travel to Africa.
What is a categorical desire Williams?
Williams contrasts: Conditional desires: desires I have for something, if some condition or other holds. Categorical desires: desires for things that I want unconditionally.
What are conditional desires?
On the other hand, conditional desires are the desires that are viewed as the “wants” out of life; a life lived that does not complete conditional desires could still be complete. Bernard Williams further explains this mindset by creating the character “Makropulos” who is semi-immortal, but in order to retain this …
Why did Bernard Williams write The Makropulos Case?
Bernard Williams’ The Makropulos Case, focuses on the topic of immortality, and the issues that would arise from being immortal. Williams’ uses the concept of the Makropulos play to refute the idea of immortality, because the protagonist kills themselves out of unbearable boredom from exhausting their categorical desires.
Which is the limiting case in The Makropulos Case?
The second condition says that my future life must hold out some hope for the fulfilment of my categorical desires; and, the limiting case of these, is that future desires of mine may arise and be satisfied, and that it should be clear how these future desires might relate to my present character.
What did Bernard Williams think about the boredom of immortality?
Williams thinks that this generality would ot eliminate boredom and inner death – it would be a world of Bourbons, learning nothing and forgetting nothing, and it is unclear how much could ever happen. Williams argues that the boredom of immortality has little to do with the specific character of Makropulos.
What did Bernard Williams take from Nagel’s argument?
Williams takes it that it is a contingent fact that – contra Lucretius – most people have categorical desires that make death a misfortune for them. But Nagel’s argument can be taken as supplementary to Williams’s in supplying non-utilitarian reasons.