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According to the German philosopher Martin Heidegger,death has two defining characteristics. Jx_cf9{
First, it can't be outsourced - nobody can die your death for you. The second raises more =AsEZ)" _
questions. Heidegger says death can happen at any point, so it's randon. But with advances in cO-
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genetics, knowing the date of our decease is becoming a real possibility. And is that good? ^le<}
Imagine going about your business with your expiry date stamped invisibly on the back of your R7]l{2V#^
hand. You'd probably be spooked by this constant reminder of your mortality. You'd find it Z
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impossible to live. You'd pass your days in envy of those your age who are destined to live longer. yxonRV$&
Alternatively, you could treat the date-stamp as an end date from which to work back. It would KMt`XaC9e
make retirement planning and the gubbins of wills and probate smoother. It would allow you to E^Y#&skXp3
take an active part in organising your own funeral. You could even plan your diet: death tomorrow -Q2, "
means an awful lot of jam today. And your loved ones would have the benefit of a steady coming-to- ,c$,!. r
terms with your passing away. > pgX^
But Heidegger's point is, even if geneticists, extrapolating from your current condition(s), gave *EI6dD"
you a reliable date of death, they'd fail to account for chance. Just as teenagers can crash their 32l3vv.j
cars, so pensioners as dit as a fiddle can still fall down the stairs. So what's the lesson? Imagine VJ84?b{c
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you're programmed to die tomorrow, and live today as if it were your last. |D '4uN8\
Robert Rowland Smith iy6On,UL
