Murlidhar expired
By: Ron Advani
Tags: Mortality, Death And Dying, Philosophy Of Mind, Life Lessons, Memories

Murlidhar expired

The role of death in life

Photo by Benjamin Catapane on Unsplash

On one of our trips to visit family in India we inquired about the corner shopkeeper Murlidhar from whom we would buy snacks on each trip. My father in law stated matter of factly and in a tone of finality — “Murlidhar expired”. We knew what he meant but our young children had never heard this expression before and on finding out that Murlidhar had died, they broke out in laughter. They said repeatedly “expired ? — like a library card”?

Do humans expire like a carton of milk or canned food? The word expire indicates that it is past its useful life. But that is not what occurs when human life ends. Certainly many reach the end of their useful life but for many it is not yet the expiration date. I recently read a book called “Death and Philosophy” by Jeff Malpas and Robert Solomon and I recalled this event that required us explaining to our children the meaning of a person expiring. Chapter 9 in the book contends humans are called mortals because we can die. Mortality means being capable of death. Animals simply perish or expire. Animals do not have a story to be told and do not have the idea of life, of a past or of a future.

Death that gives meaning and significance to life for mortals. Life in the absence of death would be devoid of interest. To have a life is to be capable of death. “Having a life” is distinct from merely living. Having a lfe is to have an idea of one’s own life and a sense of self awareness and self conception.

‘To have a life is also, we might say, to be involved in telling and retelling the story of that life’ (1)

The role of the narrative is to provide a unity and structure to a life. When humans interact whether in person or virtually on social media they are telling and retelling stories about their lives or someone else’s life. We talk about what we did this morning or yesterday or during our youth or recall that visit to a restaurant in Madrid or Mumbai. We are reliving our life. In writing these blogs on Medium, I am attempting to both understand life in general and my life in particular by telling stories. Some are personal and nostalgic and others are my observations on human nature.

I find it fascinating to rake the leaves of memory and uncover long lost impressions, images and feelings. Sometimes this takes no effort as a sudden memory just surfaces without warning and at other times it is more of a struggle to recall with any detail. But the experience of writing down as a general interest story is challenging and satisfying.

As I get closer to the end of my life I try to understand the story of my life and to attempt to narrate it to myself and to write it for posterity. I do not know if anyone will read it or not but for me it is crucial to tell it and retell it. Most of it is mundane stuff and recounts events and often feelings and judgements and biases. But it helps me own my life and to “have a life”.

(1) “Death and the unity of a life” Jeff Malpas, Chapter 9 of Death and Philosophy edited by Jeff Malpas and Robert C. Soomon