Lucretius

Question 1

Symmetry Argument

Answer 1

1. The time after our death and the time before our birth are the same (non-existence of the subject)
2. The time before our birth is not a bad for us

Therefore, the time after our death is not a bad for us

Question 2

Elaboration of Symmetry Argument

Answer 2

• people don’t mourn the loss of experience in not being born earlier
• our attitude towards death ought to mirror our attitude towards pre-birth
• the time before birth and after death are identical, They are both states of non-existence. It is not bad not to be born. Therefore, it is not bad to be dead