How does the engineering perspective apply the necessity of mortality to human existence and legacy?
Answer
By viewing personal legacy as enabling the successful passing of vital ideas before the physical self becomes obsolescent code
Viewing existence through an engineering lens means recognizing that rigidity and outdated structures become bottlenecks. Just as software requires constant refactoring and deprecation of old systems to survive and grow, human progress requires the timely replacement of existing paradigms. True legacy, in this view, is not about clinging to what one built physically, but successfully passing on the essential, vital ideas to enable the *next* necessary change before the individual's own system—body and mind—becomes the obsolete architecture requiring replacement.
Related Questions
What did Steve Jobs cite as the single best invention of life during his famous pronouncements?What specific function did Steve Jobs assign to death as life’s central mechanism?In which highly cited event did Steve Jobs articulate his view on death as life’s best invention?What structural problem does the function of death, viewed as an invention, solve for systems?What crucial effect did remembering his impending end have on Jobs’ ability to make big choices?What specific trap, related to prior effort, did Jobs suggest awareness of death helps cut through?How does the engineering perspective apply the necessity of mortality to human existence and legacy?What is required for the active management of mortality, beyond mere contemplation, concerning current obligations?What contrasting philosophical focus does Jobs’ functionalist argument about death move attention away from?How does knowing time is strictly limited—the ultimate constraint—affect decision-making ability?