Long Live Life | Viva La Vita

“No man is able to enjoy the real taste of life unless he is willing to let it go.”
– Seneca

Contrary to common belief, which sees death as the opposite of life, death is, in fact, its complement. It is death that lends meaning to life, defining its boundaries and urgency. Without it, life would be like an endless film — eventually becoming tedious and unbearable. In this sense, one might even argue that if death did not exist, humanity would have invented it.

However, death is only valuable and worthy of respect as long as it serves the purpose of elevating life. When its presence seeks to render life worthless and insignificant, it must be questioned and rejected.

This is especially relevant in today’s world, where the glorification of death and the growing belief that abandoning the world is virtuous are becoming more prevalent. A classic argument made by such proponents is the absurdity of life. In response to this notion, Albert Camus, the French writer, offers the best answer:

“It is true that life is absurd; on this, I agree with you. But the absurdity of life is not an end — it is a beginning.”

Camus further expands on this rebellion against absurdity in The Myth of Sisyphus. He portrays Sisyphus, who, as punishment for provoking the wrath of the gods, is condemned to endlessly roll a boulder up a mountain, only for it to fall back down each time he nears the summit. He is trapped in this cycle of futile effort, symbolizing the meaningless struggle of human existence. It is here that Camus offers a solution: first, accepting absurdity instead of fleeing from it through denial or suicide, and then rebelling against it by continuing to live and create meaning.

From this perspective, one can extract the essence of existentialist philosophy. This philosophy was first introduced by Jean-Paul Sartre and later reinforced by Camus. It asserts that the absurdity of life should push us toward defining our own purpose and meaning, rather than leading us to abandon life altogether.

Alongside all the philosophical teachings we can derive, there is one thing that has a more profound and unique impact, and that is the encounter with death itself. This confrontation may happen during a serious illness, a conviction, or even a failed suicide attempt.

A study conducted on survivors of suicide attempts from the Golden Gate Bridge in the United States revealed that a significant percentage of them reported experiencing an awakening in the very moments of their fall — almost as if they suddenly felt something come alive within them or realized they were losing something invaluable. Many wished they could turn back time just a few moments and abandon their decision.

Similarly, interviews with terminal cancer patients have shown a shared shift in perspective. Financial concerns no longer seemed important to them, and it even felt absurd that, at one point, the quality of a meal or a disagreement with a spouse had been enough to disrupt their peace for days. Facing the loss of life had opened their eyes to its true value.

A striking literary example of this realization can be found in the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky, the great Russian writer, who was constantly accompanied by the shadow of death — and through it, came to appreciate the value and gift of life. His life was intricately intertwined with suffering and the looming specter of death, but the pinnacle of his confrontation with mortality came when he was sentenced to execution. He narrates this experience through Prince Myshkin, the protagonist of The Idiot, who recounts the story of a man awaiting execution:

Standing in line with other condemned men, the prisoner is lost in thought:

“What if it doesn’t happen? What if I survive, if I am pardoned, if life is given back to me—then what should I do? What can I do? I know, I know what I must do… I will turn every second into a century.”

Conclusion:

Life must be accepted in all its ugliness and beauty, because life is the only thing we have. In a hundred years, all will be forgotten. Life is one thing, and death another. Life is the greatest, the highest thing, while death is simply the cessation of life. When life is beautiful and full, death is nothing, it’s only the end of that which was beautiful.