Dealing with Human Death: The Floating Perspective

Abstract

This article explores a plausible approach to dealing with the important, if not fundamental, life-span phenomenon of human death. Specifically, this approach is called the floating perspective, and is based on insights contained in the works of Choron and Jaspers. In effect, the floating perspective suggests that it is possible to deal with human death by refraining from taking an ultimate position on this problem. The inquiry elaborates on both the logic of this view as well as its psychology, that is, the attitude of mind that it suggests. This elaboration is carried out by contrasting the floating perspective with a number of other views, such as those of Epicurus and the Stoic philosophers. Whereas these views attempt to provide a remedy or an answer to the problem of death, the floating perspective encourages an openness to this unavoidable aspect of human nature. The article examines the role of anxiety and describes possible meaningful outcomes of an encounter with human death from this perspective.