Hamad Waheed

UWRT 1102-064
Suzanne Thomas
4-11-15

How do people in different time periods react to death?

In a society where uniqueness is not uncommon we all share one remarkable

similarity, the gift of life. However, we are all well aware that with the gift of life,
comes the confrontation of death. Death is essentially a phenomenon of timeless
curiosity. Although, the real question isnt why do people die? rather how do
people react to death? Moreover, how do people in different time periods react to
death?
According to Tilly, this characteristic sets apart the humans from the animals .
Intelligent animals exist, but only human beings are intrigued with variables other
than that of immediate needs. Another characteristic only humans have is practical
knowledge. Tilly also states that In everyday life, we all deploy practical knowledge.
We draw practical knowledge not only from individual experience but also from the
social settings in which we live. Practical knowledge ranges from logics of
appropriateness (formulas) to credible explanations (cause-effect accounts)(21).

concerning purpose in the prevalent life-death correlation , it also exemplifies

Lepps ability to set forth an interpretive connotation . Thus, if anyone was to argue,
the fact remains. According to Lepps philosophy, people who have had a societal
impact have purposeful deaths. If that is the case, then Will Smith and Oprah are in
the clear.
While the inquiry of how people in different time periods react to death
remains unanswered, humans in the past have still attempted to communicate with
future generations via monuments. The message that these monuments carry is open
to interpretation, but the significance of the communication still exists . That is also
the case with us today, and while there are concerns regarding our success with this
endeavor, a future societal impact is still a possibility . Lepp would be proud.
Additionally, Gregory Benford, author of Deep Time, proposed ideas concerning the
communication of mankind in distant time periods. In his publication Benford states
intellectuals think in terms of ideas. Most people do not, (59). This is just one of
the present day variables preventing communication . Benford also indicates that
language changes over time and even if we can invent a method of communication
unaffected by these variables, it would be useless considering that future generations

might perceive our time period as an outlier in the linear advancement of mankind .
Although this theory is plausible, it infers that mankind will eventually overcome its
negligence and economic view. If that were the case then would our current
interpretation of death be of value?
In conclusion, given the facts of history, people have opened their eyes to
the real affect death has and how precious life is. People began desensitized to death
but have grown more aware and have acquired strong emotion when death becomes
normal in life. People will continue to be shocked by death as time goes on and
medicine and law will continue to progress. Death is merely a fact of life, and the
significance of death is highly correlated, if not unified, with the significance of life.