Deconstructing the question why – how it creates purpose, the unspoken effect death has on society and how it has been weaponized to control the population.

Animals and humans survive alike but the moment a child asks “why” the spark of consciousness and imagination separates instinct from philosophy. The question “why” is inherently the most human inquiry of all. Its existence assumes there is some form of reasoning behind anything at all. The concept of “why” is the birthplace of science, religion, art, gods, expression, and existential dread.

There is much we have come to understand in today’s day in age that doesn’t give any definite answer as to why things are a certain way such as gravity, the sun etc but instead raises the question how. Many stories are hailed as greater when the audience knows little to nothing about the events outside of the main story, forcing us to put ourselves into the world and give our own personal take on it. This may be the case with fiction but is surprisingly the opposite when commentating on the real world. The unknown used to be considered magic until science explained the process of how any given thing is built, works, or destroyed. Although this may be the case I don’t think it makes any of our current everyday uses any less magical. With a different perspective you can see the infinite amount of absurdities present constantly or you can deny this belief altogether. There are animals with built in spikes, plants that can physically move and eat insects, chemicals that can change/alter your perception of life etc that we have all become oblivious or numb to. Despite pleading my case for the validity of magic it still cannot answer the question why. Science explains how but if i told you to explain how bluetooth was made a large majority wouldn’t be able to name the first step(including me) so we really don’t “know” much. This can further be related to a famous philosopher Rene Descartes often crowned the father of modern philosophy. His theory is derived from the urge to establish an undeniable truth and continue learning from this new perspective. The only way to establish this undoubtable grounding is to begin by doubting everything and assuming that nothing he believes/perceives and so on is true. He imagines an all powerful demon has taken control of his mind and been deceiving him from birth. He assumes all of his senses are deceitful and questions what can undeniably be true now. He comes to understand that he can’t be deceived into thinking that he isn’t thinking, because thinking that you aren’t thinking is still thinking, so he’s certain that he is thinking. He becomes certain that he exists because a non-existent being can’t think. So since he’s certain that he’s thinking he’s certain that he exists. I think therefore I am.

Thinking philosophically is a privilege that many aren’t given access to do to the fact we are systematically stuck in survival mode. People born in poverty or harmful environments are almost in a way forced to make bad decisions and adopt animalistic mindsets. For the rich death is a far away nonfactor only to be considered at old age, but for those born into hostility it is an everyday and constant mindset ingrained in one’s brain. You don’t think about politics, the newest fashion show, or anything meant to last outside of your current situation but instead you are forced to think about what you will eat today, how you can afford to survive and fast nonlasting entertainment. The reinforced thought of death causes many to latch onto short term goals and feelings, drugs and designer clothes are two examples of trying to “buy” your next high because you’re unsure if you will even be alive next year to start a savings account or reap the benefits of investing in things like real estate and stocks.

The question can span to something minisquel like why we procrastinate or something big like why the universe was made. If why is the most fundamental human question of all, then the question of why we die is the identical twin brother and go hand in hand with each other. Death is largely frowned upon but is the necessary catalyst for meaning. Whether you loathe it or run towards it you have opinion on it, and have made much of your decisions taking death into consideration. Mankind is obsessed with the concept of certainty/faith vs free will and in turn be the birth of creativity and imagination or existential dread n nihilism. A quote exploring the way I personally feel about death can be seen in Doctor Doom’s concluding speech in Sanford Greene and Jonathan Hickman’s Doom where he says “Life ends for all of us so accept it… with head held high. Refusing to be judged by what gods remain in the universe.. And unscarred by whatever sins lie in your past. When all that remains is one final moment of defiance, embrace doom and laugh in its face.”. The decisions you make in the face of failure or uncertainty build up creating habits instinctually, so the answers you give to the many unknown questions of life create the type of person you are.