Being true Quote by Bryan Magee
“To take, for example, my own death: what I consider most likely to be true is that death will be the complete and utter end of my existence, with no successor existence of any kind that can be related to me as I now am. And if that is not the case, the next most likely scenario, it seems to me, is something along the lines indicated by Schopenhauer. But neither of these is what I most want. What I want to be true is that I have an individual, innermost self, a soul, which is the real me and which survives my death. That too could be true. But alas, I do not believe it.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Bryan Magee on Philosophy of Mind, 1975
Magee explores the tension between materialist death of death and the desire for an immortal soul, ultimately expressing doubt about both.
In simple terms: He doubts both death as final and the existence of a soul.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty about afterlife and focus on present existence.
Themes
existentialism
philosophy of mind
death and immortality
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
existential
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- ethical decision making
- spiritual inquiry
Key Concepts
materialism
dualism
personal identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the possibility of no afterlife mean for you?
- Can meaning be found without belief in a soul?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overlook cultural or religious frameworks that provide comfort about afterlife.
