Authentic existence requires facing one's own mortality from "summary" of Being and Time by Martin Heidegger
In the anticipation of death, Dasein is brought face to face with its ownmost potentiality-for-Being, the possibility of being-towards-death. When Dasein understands that death is a possibility that belongs to its ownmost being, it realizes that it cannot be outsourced to some indefinite future. Rather, death is an ever-present possibility that shapes the way Dasein lives its life in the world. As Dasein faces its mortality, it is forced to confront the finitude of its existence. This confrontation with death strips away the superficial concerns and distractions that often preoccupy Dasein in its everyday existence. In the face of death, Dasein is compelled to reevaluate its priorities and choices, to question the meaning and purpose of its life. By acknowledging its mortality, Dasein is freed from the illusions of immortality and permanence. It recognizes the transient and fleeting nature of its existence, which gives rise to a sense of urgency and authenticity in its being-in-the-world. Dasein is no longer content to simply exist in a state of inauthenticity, but is driven to live a life that is true to itself and its ownmost potentiality-for-Being. Facing one's own mortality is not an easy task, as it requires Dasein to confront the fundamental question of its own existence. However, it is only through this confrontation with death that Dasein can truly live authentically. By embracing its mortality, Dasein is able to live a life that is meaningful, purposeful, and true to itself. In this way, the anticipation of death becomes a catalyst for Dasein to seize hold of its own existence and to create a life that is uniquely its own.
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