Not only are selves conditional but they die. Each day, we wake slightly altered, and the person we were yesterday is dead. So why, one could say, be afraid of death, when death comes all the time?
In John Updike's reflection on self-consciousness, he emphasizes the transient nature of identity. He argues that our selves are not only contingent upon experiences but are also in a constant state of flux. Each day brings changes that render who we were yesterday obsolete, suggesting that our identities are perpetually evolving. This indicates that a fear of death may be unfounded, as death is not a singular event but a continual process that occurs as we evolve.
Updike's perspective invites readers to reconsider their understanding of death and personal identity. The notion that we experience small deaths each day prompts a deeper inquiry into the significance we place on our past selves. Embracing this idea can lead to a liberation from the fear of physical death, as it becomes apparent that every moment contains elements of rebirth and transformation.
