Final answer:
The difference in perception between non-existence after death versus before birth is influenced by cultural beliefs and philosophical perspectives. Rene Descartes' dualism argued for separate existence of soul and body, but modern science supports brain-based consciousness. Existentialists focus on what we can know for certain about existence and consciousness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of why we regard non-existence after our death differently from non-existence before our birth is deeply rooted in philosophical and existential thinking. People in different cultures, such as country A, which believes in the soul's survival after death, and country B, which does not, hold varying beliefs about the afterlife. This contrasts with existentialists, who focus on human existence and consciousness.
Rene Descartes, a proponent of dualism, posited that the soul is separate from the body and immortal. However, modern science challenges the concept of the soul existing without the physical body and brain, leaning towards evidence-based understanding of consciousness. Regardless of where a person dies, the reality of the soul is not contingent on beliefs but is subject to philosophical and scientific scrutiny.
It's clear that concepts such as the soul and afterlife are deeply personal and vary vastly across different cultures and philosophical schools of thought. The idea that there could be multiple realities, with or without souls, challenges the fundamental belief in a single consistent reality. This highlights the often subjective nature of our understanding of existence and essence.