Up@dawn 2.0

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

(H1)

Would you prefer to live a long and ordinary life or a short and extraordinary one? Is this a false dilemma?

In today's society and economy, if one wishes to enjoy a moderately comfortable later life in retirement, they must make heavy sacrifices to their early and middle life. People have to save for retirement and thus they have less money to spend on themselves after living costs. But, what if people did not have to worry about their later years? If people intended to live a very comfortable, exciting early life without any intention of reaching the longer years?

In South Korea, one of the leading causes of death is suicide. South Korea has the second highest suicide rate in the world. The reason being a philosophy of a short and extraordinary life, and a lack of interest in an uncomfortable later life. A significant amount of the elderly in South Korea are in deep poverty. Therefore, a common practice in South Korea is to spend much money during their early life and then commit suicide. Many times, young adults will take out and max loans that they could from banks, and blow all of the money within the early years of their life, and then when the fun and funds run out, commit suicide. 

Is it better to live such an enjoyable early life or should one prefer to work towards an uncertain elderly life? One must heavily consider this, as it has much effects. Just like the banks that won't have their loans returned in South Korea, many around one are effected by their short and extraordinary or a long and ordinary life.

In a perfect world, one would consider this a false dilemma, that anyone could easily balance an exciting early life and a comfortable later life. However, in reality, many economical problems prevent the certainty of many of society's securities for the elder, and many of today's technologies and activities encourage an extraordinary early life.

3 comments:

  1. This is very interesting. I would choose to live an extraordinary long life; but if I had the choice between a long and ordinary life and a short and extraordinary life, I would choose the latter.

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  2. I feel like this is indeed a false dilemma, as you implied. I think that, in order to verify, at least, hope in one's life, one must always pursue a balance of philosophy, merit, knowledge, and relaxation.

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  3. It is entirely the choice of the individual. Everybody has different dreams and aspirations, so what may be right for somebody may be wrong for somebody else. Nobody should tell you have to live your life, and the best part of life is figuring out what's right for you.

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