Thoughts and Non Thoughts

Further to  this post on the fear of mortality . The fear of mortality is not so much the fear of a finite life, but rather the fear of a life that passed without significance. But what is significance? Would you rather have a $2 million mansion or win the Nobel prize worth $1.2 million. Is it achieving power and wealth or writing a book that future generations will continue to read? Each one would have a different answer. But what I've seen from most people is that if you ask them which one they preferred - recognition from others such as awards, or the appreciation from their loved ones such as their family - many would choose the latter. The fear of insignificance is not about being insignificant to the world but in being insignificant to the ones we love. We would rather live on in their hearts than on a shelf in a library.

Anatoly Karpov was world chess champion for ten years (1975-1985). Until the arrival of Gary Kasparov, he dominated tournaments and world title matches. His style is described as "solidly positional, taking no risks but reacting mercilessly to any tiny errors made by his opponents." In his own words: "Let us say the game may be continued in two ways: one of them is a beautiful tactical blow that gives rise to variations that don't yield to precise calculation; the other is clear positional pressure that leads to an endgame with microscopic chances of victory... I would choose the latter without thinking twice." (Wikipedia) Sounds familiar? It was only when Gary Kasparov came along that some excitement came back to chess. In the end Kasparov was beaten by a computer and could not stop the deteriorating interest in the game.