“Imbedded in a cosmos where everything was immortal,
mortality became the hallmark of human existence.” (18)
This is an example of good writing because in one sentence
Arendt is able to concisely summarize an abstract concept that many people contemplate.
Her choice of words is not too difficult where they would take away from comprehending
the statement. Instead, they add to the sentence just enough to describe a
complex idea accurately.
In regards to the idea she is writing about, I absolutely
agree. I think everyone wants to be notice in some way, and to be remembered.
As humans, we are surrounded by things that appear to never die. The earth, the
moon, the stars, the sun. These things have always been in the lives of humans.
Even though we know that someday they will no longer be here, their lifespan is
so vast that compared to the human lifespan it seems like eternity. Humans have tried for a long time to
outpace their mortality. The best achievements so far are the Egyptian
pyramids. But even though those monuments still stand, we don’t really know who
it was that built them. The details of those lives where mortal too. But humans
still try to fight their immortality.
I agree. It seems like she's trying to write poetry or song lyrics in the vocabulary she uses and the way of writing; and like any poetry or song lyrics, it concisely conveys a complex or abstract point, as you pointed out.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping someone for this week would post about Arendt's section on eternity and immortality. I especially enjoyed Arendt's clarification of "immortality" as "endurance in time, deathless life on this earth." (Pg. 18) She makes an interesting point here about how human beings choose to become immortal with the things that they leave behind. After we realized that our lives were impermanent we decided to make a legacy for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteTo further this point, I like the idea that anything made with human hands can never truly be immortal.
"The fall of the Roman Empire plainly demonstrated that no work of mortal hands can be immortal..." (Pg. 21)
While you make an interesting point in describing how humans have always attempted to outpace their mortality, I feel compelled to disagree (only slightly) over the idea that the Pyramids are humanities greatest achievements. While it isn't the statement itself I have an issue with, it is instead the implication that surrounds it.
ReplyDeleteI feel as if each era has a degree of extra-surrealness. By which I mean, within each age, there exists a people who stand out ahead of other civilizations academically, economically, militarily, agriculturally, architechtually, and so on. In a time before time, there was Stonehenge, in another, the countless massive marble wonders made by the Greeks, in another age the impressive structures of Rome, and your example of the Egyptian pyramids (but certainly not least).
In other ways, countries and civilizations have made themselves immortal by creating a legacy. For example, empires that have shaped the outcome of human history such as the Egyptian, Roman, British, and American empires.
I suppose what I'm getting at is the fact that, yes, I agree with you and Ardent that anything made with human hands can never truly be immortal. However, I think an addendum is needed in the form of an observation of the human mind - and how it's capable of creating ideals and memories that last longer than any civilization in recorded history.
An example of my thought process can be found in Alan Moore's V for Vendetta (amazing graphic novel if anyone reading this would like to borrow it). Whilst describing his plot, V (the protagonist to the book) bestows an important piece of information that applies to what we're talking about: "What lies beneath this mask is an idea, and an idea cannot be killed with bullets."
While, yes, anything made by human hands can never truly be immortal, intangible - abstract ideas will exist for as long as the human mind produces thought. Of course, there will always be a day in which humanity will face its end, but until the end of time (for us, at least), one thing for certain will always have a sense of human immortality: No matter what happens to civilizations, the amazing structures they make, or the people who constitute the latter, ideas are the things that started it all - the things that inspired the pyramids to be built, that inspired the Roman empire to expand and shape the political landscape of the entire western world, and the things that inspired countless thinkers to improve our minds to the point in which we can now ask these questions today.
Ideas are our piece of immortality, and as Ardent explored in our readings, one of the few ways for individuals to actually reach out and ascend from a blip of existence on the cosmic time scale, to millennia of thought and observance until human consciousness simply ceases to be.
Great post, Jessica!
-Tom
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI had a typo so I resubmitted it.
DeleteI attempted to post last night, but of course when I clicked submit everything disappeared. With that said…
ReplyDeleteThe notion of immortality and humanity presented in Arendt’s writing is evident in my world. This idea that we, as humans, have this desire to leave the world better than we entered it, to “make our mark”, is incredibly common on the college campus. And although this concept is present in every day life, I had never realized it is something that makes us uniquely human.
This desire to be immortal is unique to the human race. I will admit, I am no animal scientist, nor do I have any knowledge on why animals do what they do. However, I would argue that there exists a lack of support on the side of animal immortality. I have never heard, nor have I seen, any trace of creatures before my time. There are no structures remaining, or philosophy to explore, or history to remember of any creature apart from humans. While we can study the history of the earth using science to hypothesize how the earth was formed or how humanity evolved etc, we need to look no further then the pyramids in Egypt or the ruins in South America to witness the immortality of men.
When thinking about this concept of immortality, a question began to disturb me. I wonder if this ability to dream of creating something that will outlive me is a desire that is common in all humanity. It is easy for me to look around my current surroundings and say yes, of course it is. But then I became curious as to whether this desire to be, in an essence, immortal can only be felt by those who have the luxury to dream. I am sure that sounds vague so let me attempt to explain. I wake up in the morning covered by the shelter of my home, my concerns are not about if I have clothes to wear or if I will eat, but rather what outfit will look best and what food I am craving. I am free to think about how I can interact with the world and create a sustainabile and beneficial impression during my time. However, does someone who must wonder if they will eat, where they will sleep, or whether they have clothes have this same desire to be immortal? Is this desire privileged to those who have the ability to have (at least in some sense) freedom from attaining necessities?
And if it is this desire for immortality that makes us uniquely human, can someone who does not desire to leave something behind them be defined as humans? Or have there circumstances transformed them to be inhuman?
To these, I do not have an answer.
Lizzy
You bring up a really good point in regards to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. We do indeed have the luxury of dreaming. One who has all their needs met has far more free time to think about the world and their place in it, as opposed to those who exist in unfortunate conditions in which getting three meals a day and a safe place to rest their head at night is at the foreront of their mind.
DeleteAs for the final point about the inhumanity of those who aren't privileged, you kind of lost me. I see what you're getting at...but just because an individual doesn't have the means to create a legacy, it doesn't mean they are inhuman - just unlucky - born in the wrong place, at the wrong time. That doesn't make them any less human than you or I.
I suppose in a post-modern world the interpretation of humanity can have multiple meanings, though, so I can see what you could mean in that aspect.
Tom
As a side note, Jessica, I believe we're partners for our class facilitation next week (the 10th?). I have absolutely no idea who you are, so hopefully you'll see this and we can make plans to get together on campus this weekend to hash out the details of what we want to do.
ReplyDeleteMy number is 425.367.7947, and my email is tdsthird@gmail.com...sooo...give me a call/email and we'll figure stuff out!
-Tom