СУОЧАВАЊЕ СА ПРОБЛЕМОМ СМРТИ
COPING WITH THE PROBLEM OF DEATH

Summary/Abstract: After having pointed that finiteness is man’s prerequisite for his concern with philosophy, the author claims that the death fear comes from the awareness of the possibility of losing his individuality. To be considered as a wise man one must not fear death. Still, the reasons given for serene facing death are not always correct. The author claims that Epicurus’ arguments are not convincing because there is no comfort in the opinion that allegedly all good or bad is connected with feelings and death is the end of every feeling. We are not afraid so much of the punishment awaiting us in afterlife as of possibility of dissolving in nothingness, absolute disappearance. After having stressed that philosophy is not a comfort but pathos of truth, the author explores three possibilities of the fate of soul in the afterlife: absolute disappearance, dissolving in the world’s soul and individual immortality. Since the understanding cannot decide which of these possibilities is the closest to truth, the author resorts to the consideration of the so called borderline experiences. The consideration of the reports of seeing of the resuscitated persons, the appearance of the deceased, the phenomenon of the so called panoramic life review and incorrupt bodies suggest (but do not prove) that faith in afterlife is correct. At the end the author reminds us that the awareness of death stimulates one to moral life and contributes to the intense experience of every moment as much as possible. He recommends us that when we are deciding whether to believe in afterlife we should take into consideration not only the understanding but to listen to the voice of heart.

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