Introductory Message
Early April usually witnesses gloomy vibes across China because of the traditional Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day). Honouring ancestors always triggers contemplation about death and the afterlife. This week’s topic is inspired by Professor Samuel Scheffler’s book Death and the Afterlife.Professor Scheffler argues that when it comes to questions of what we value and why, to a surprising degree such matters appear dependent upon the supposition that others will continue to live, long after we have died. Is this really the case? What would happen in our afterlife? If it really is so important that others continue to live long after we are gone, what implications does this have for the way we organise our society? What should we do to secure the prospects for our collective afterlife? This may be a heavy topic for some people but I believe a careful pondering over the afterlife would shed some light on how to live a meaningful life.
各位好，本周英语角的话题源自我在剑桥学习期间参加的一个研讨会，来自纽约大学的Samuel Scheffler教授在《死亡与后世》Death and the Afterlife 一书中提出我们当下所做的社会决策以及价值观的形成很大程度上是基于“后世生存”的假设。我们离开这个世界后会发生什么？人类作为一个种族最终会走向何方？我们应该做些什么来护佑后世的集体生存希望？
这可能是一个沉重、小众甚至不太吉利的话题，但我想对于后世哲学的虔诚思考与清明节的意义是一脉相承的，它会让你对当下的生存有更深刻的理解，于先辈、后人处汲取现世生存的智慧。欢迎你来！
What's your belief regarding the afterlife?
- Heaven and hell?
- Transmigration？Reincarnation?
- Gone is gone...
Different Interpretations of Death
- When there’s no one left in the living world who remembers you, you disappear from this world. We call it the Final Death. （Coco）
- While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die. — Leonardo da Vinci
- Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live. —Norman Cousins
- The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living. —Marcus Tullius Cicero
- The reality is that we don’t forget, move on, and have closure. But rather we honor, we remember, and incorporate our deceased children and siblings into our lives in a new way. In fact, keeping memories of your loved one alive in your mind and heart is an important part of your healing journey. – Harriet Schiff, author of The Bereaved Parent
Date: 06/04/2019 19:30-21:00
Attendees: 8 Nanxian, Janny, Celia, Shadow, Mike, Michael, Agnes, Benjamin
Archive files: 3 Photos, 1 Signin Form
Minutes taken by Janny
