[Crowbob]

Not to be argumentative, Choc, but how do you know humans are the only animals with knowledge of their own mortality? I think the evidence is mounting that animals have much higher levels of cognition, self-awareness and time than previously thought, so why not death?

As far as we humans go, with the new brain imaging technology these days, many neuroscientists are beginning to question long-held notions of consciousness. Persistent vegatative states for example are no longer thought of being as vegetative as we once thought. Personally, this scares me.

Having watched my brother lose function after function following a massive brain aneurism, and having to decide if/when to cease mechanical support, I didn't have much choice about these questions being thrust on me.

Then, losing both parents and my best friend, I have ever since and increasingly been gaining a clearer persepective on just about everything. For one thing, my life and the lives of those I love have improved in not so small a part because of death and the deaths of those I loved.