One day you're king, next day you're a pile of bones under a car park.
Which makes it all the more worthwhile to be remembered for what you've done while you're alive (hopefully postive things) than where your bones rest even if you were born into privilege.
I don't know if this will keep going, but there are people to this day (usually mathematicians or someone with an affinity to that line) who tenderly care for the grave of Thomas Bayes. The man has been gone for almost 250 years.
You're only partly right: The dead won't care. But if you're remembered for good things by others, then by default you've done good while you're alive. That's really the point of living don't you think?
We can all debate the metaphysical on what happens afterwards, but what's real, observable and true is the effect you had on those around you while you're alive and the legacy you leave behind. Bayes obviously won't care what happens today, he can't. But those alive today still do after so many years.
The fact that we won't be around to experience the merits of our actions doesn't mean our actions should be devoid of merit.
"That's really the point of living don't you think?"
Well, in my opinion, you shouldn't base your actions on what you can write on your resume... Do good things, regardless of how broadly it will be received. You can easily portray yourself as a saint but in reality do more harm than good, and get away with it. But why care the about how you will be perceived when you're gone? The time it takes to be forgotten doesn't have anything to do with how "good" you were.
If you did miracles for elderly people you might get forgotten a minute after your death. Does that mean that your actions doesn't count? Why would you even care to think about it?
Of course! :) Do good even if you're remembered or not.
Really anything can be taken from you. Money, status, memories and even life itself, but the one thing no one can ever take away is what you've done. Whether you're remembered or not your actions can never be reversed, so hopefully they better be good ones.
Which makes it all the more worthwhile to be remembered for what you've done while you're alive (hopefully postive things) than where your bones rest even if you were born into privilege.
I don't know if this will keep going, but there are people to this day (usually mathematicians or someone with an affinity to that line) who tenderly care for the grave of Thomas Bayes. The man has been gone for almost 250 years.