krakauer said that when he was young, "personal mortality--the idea of (his) own death--was still largely outside (his) conceptual grasp." what does that mean? how do you think he grappled with his own personal mortality?
Most of us, meaning teenagers, have this same struggle with the idea of mortality. We know we will all die at some point; we've heard this same refrain repeated time after time. But while we have no problem saying it, we don't quite connect with the words coming out of our mouths. How many times have we done something reckless simply because we're young, healthy, and because we can? I climb fences for no reason other than I like the thrill--much to my mother's despair. And yes, I understand that I could fall and break my neck at any time, but on another level, I "know" it won't happen because I won't die until I'm old and sick in a bed somewhere. The idea of dying, especially when we're still youthful, just seems a bit out there. And how could we not find the concept strange? The only world we've known is one with us in it.
And how could anyone be successful in grappling with their own mortality? Most philosophers probably sit around in a dark room or on a rock somewhere and think about their death, which I suspect is what Krakauer did. Or you could always deliberately put yourself in some life or death situation and stare mortality right in the face, but I do not encourage this. You're much safer pondering on a rock.
-jc17
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