Up@dawn 2.0 (blogger)

Delight Springs

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

A One In A Lifetime Lunch

A once in a lifetime lunch 

Michael Clancy

 Me: As I lay in my bed I find myself tossing and turning. The rush of anxiety before I sit down to talk to Susan Neiman, John Kagg and Daniel Dennett the next day keeps me from falling asleep. As I'm trying to think through what questions I will ask these philosophers in a one in a lifetime interview I doze off in thought optimistic for the day to come. 


Me: As I walk into the restaurant I am instantly intimidated as Susan, John and Daniel are already seated waiting patiently for my arrival. 


Me: Thank you all for coming today you have no idea how honored I am to be sitting at a table with you all 

Susan: Thank you for inviting me!

John : I am looking forward to a great time talking with you all!

Daniel: The honor is all mine, this is going to be a day to remember!



Me: Before we begin to eat I would like to ask my first question. Which is, What does it mean to grow up? Why should we? 


Susan Neiman  : Personally I think the question can be answered in many different ways depending on how the person looks at life. As I have mentioned in a video I was interviewed for, I see the importance of growing up as a way for us all to find out who exactly we are. I do not exactly think that it has as much to do with age, but like I said from the ages 18 to 28 most people are struggling in life just trying to figure out what they are doing which is all a process of growing up and maturing and becoming the person we were destined to be. Here is the interview that I was apart of!





Me: that's a very interesting and unique outlook on that question Susan! Next I would like to ask you the same question John. What does it mean to grow up and why should we?


John Kagg: I view growing up as a level of maturity, wisdom and knowledge. Usually as time goes on and as you age your parents and other elders will begin to talk about how grown up you are but I do not feel as if it has as much to do with the numerical value of your age but in fact of how you act and the wisdom and maturity you hold at any given age. There are many people who are grown in the sense of age but in the sense of maturity and real life wisdom lack significantly. On the other hand there are people at a much younger age who have the maturity and wisdom of someone three times their age. While there is something special about being young in the mind and soul, growing up is one of the most important aspects of life. Growing up is a process in which you begin to think about more than yourself, but instead are tasked with having to make sacrifices for others. When you're a grown up you think for yourself and even for other people in the sense of children. Growing up is a crucial but selfless act at its roots. 


Me: Wow that was a really thought through answer John, before our food gets here I would love to hear your response as well Daniel !


Daniel: To provide a different outlook, I would like to argue that ageing can in fact be labeled in a numerical aspect. I feel as though ageing is a process that everybody goes through as time in their lives goes on. When it comes to the government standpoint once you turn 18 you are a grown up in the eyes of the law. I think this is an important aspect to acknowledge due to the fact that I believe one of the biggest purposes of growing up is to be able to work and give back and help other people. Just like what John was saying growing up is a selfless think that eventually everyone has to do. It's a process in which you stop living for free and you begin living for other people. I saw a quote once that said stuff with me that said once you turn 18 your free to play trial of life is over, and now you have to pay to win the rest of the game. Once you reach a certain age you are almost forced to grow up.


Me: Such amazing answers from everybody! And perfect timing as well as our food is just now arriving. While we eat I would like you all to think about the next question I would like to ask which is What makes life worth living ?


Me: Now that we are all finished eating I would love to hear your responses to the final question, what makes life worth living?


Susan Neiman: I believe what makes life worth living is the people we surround ourselves with and the people we chose to live for. By surrounding ourselves with the people we love and those who love us it gives our lifes a greater meaning which is for living for others. 


John Kagg: I believe that death is what gives life meaning. At the end of the day there are only two things in life that are certain; the date on your gravestone that you were born and the date that you die. The dash in between those two dates is what gives your life meaning. That dash resembles your legacy, your purpose for being here. Nothing in life is guaranteed, not even another day. It's this reason in which we should live every day of our lives to the fullest because you are not guaranteed another day.


Daniel: Both great responses but for me I feel like for a lot of people their purpose in life can be answered by the religion they follow. A lot of people live their lives for a much greater purpose which is to do good for others and to spread the word of whatever religion they chose to believe in. 


Me: Wow all three of those answers were absolutely fantastic. It's very interesting to see the many different perspectives each of you touched on with your answers. Thank you all again for joining me for lunch today, hopefully sometime in the future we can all meet again!


1 comment:

  1. "I believe that death is what gives life meaning"--and vice versa. But I think Kaag would rather say that life, not death, is the meaning of life. How the "liver" lives...

    ReplyDelete