After deriding beliefs about survival after death, Sverdlov dies. It happens like that sometimes. Some readers will unreflectingly think, "Now he knows whether there is a hereafter." Not necessarily. Maybe he knows. Maybe he does not. If there is no hereafter, then he does not know that there is no hereafter. This is logically peculiar. If there is not a total eclipse at noon tomorrow, then we will know that there has not been a total eclipse at noon tomorrow.
But, even if there is a hereafter, then what is it like? If someone believes in a particular kind of hereafter only because he has been brought up to believe in that kind of hereafter, then how can he be sure that his belief is the one that just happens to be true as against all the others that just happen to be false? Two babies could have been switched at birth and brought up in each other's beliefs. Someone who is now convinced of a particular belief would instead have been equally convinced of a contrary belief. This should at least make everyone cautious about expressing any kind of certainty either that they are right or that anyone else is wrong.
We respect the dead because they have lived and because they are now where we will be. Poul Anderson describes widely different characters and always expresses respect.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I would be one of those who would believe Sverdlov now knows the afterlife is real.
Ad astra! Sean
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