In the annals of history, there are moments that force humanity to confront its shared vulnerabilities and reevaluate the divisions that often define us. The year 1665 brought forth one such moment as a devastating plague swept through London, leaving close to 100,000 lives in its wake. This catastrophic event profoundly affected a young Daniel Defoe, who, despite being a mere five years old at the time, would later document the events and their impact on society in his remarkable work, “A Journal of the Plague Year.”
In the wake of the 1665 plague, Defoe’s narrative keenly observed a phenomenon that emerged amidst the despair and chaos. As the plague gripped London, the city’s inhabitants experienced a transformation that transcended their normal boundaries and divisions. Strikingly, the differences that had long separated people, particularly those rooted in religious beliefs, began to dissolve in the face of a common threat – death itself.
In our modern world, with its unique challenges and divisions, the lessons gleaned from Defoe’s narrative resonate as a poignant reminder of the potential for unity that arises when we confront the inescapable specter of death. Can we, as a society, learn from the collective empathy and shared humanity that emerged during those trying times? Can we use the awareness of our own mortality as a catalyst for a more compassionate and understanding world?
Daniel Defoe’s insights offer a compelling starting point for exploring these questions. In his work, he subtly suggests that our innate tribal tendencies, driven by differences in beliefs, culture, or social status, can often blind us to the common thread that binds us all: our shared vulnerability to pain and death. It is in recognizing this vulnerability, not just in ourselves but in others, that we can begin to dissolve the barriers that separate us.
Defoe’s philosophy of “life through death” encourages us to actively engage with our mortality as a means of fostering greater empathy and understanding. By embracing the idea of daily reflection on the mortality of those around us, we can initiate a process of transformation, mirroring the effects of the 1665 plague on a smaller, more personal scale.
The concept of daily law, as proposed by Defoe’s philosophy, challenges us to experience the vulnerability of others to pain and death. This entails not only recognizing our own mortality but also acknowledging the fragility of those we encounter in our lives. It encourages us to empathize with their struggles, their fears, and their aspirations, as we would with our own.
By adopting this practice of death awareness, we can begin to break down the walls that divide us. When we confront the reality of our shared mortality, we are more likely to view our differences in a new light. The animosities that often arise from those differences may dissipate as we come to realize that, in the grand scheme of life, we are all bound by the same fate.
In a world characterized by polarization, political discord, and social divisions, the wisdom of Daniel Defoe offers a path towards reconciliation and unity. By embracing the notion that death awareness can disperse our differences, we can work towards a society that values empathy, compassion, and understanding above all else. As we navigate the complexities of our modern world, let us remember that it is through our shared vulnerability to pain and death that we can find common ground and build a more harmonious future.
