Julia Iribarne: “Alive until Death” and yet more

Abstract

The source of this paper is the fundamental questio how can somebody be happy when he knows that he must die. The relationship between happiness and death appears as a paradox; nevertheless, as extreme experiences, it may be suspected that there is an obscure kinship between both. This is what in a way is also at stake for Iribarne. The exposition is articulated in three parts: thinking the impossible: death; proposal of another perspective on finitude: as an imprint of life; the possibility of happiness as being our best bet. The category of play is employed as an intermediary category in the relationship death-happiness.