This essay focuses on the MWI hypothesis's characteristic features and logical extrapolations. To substantiate our argument, it uses a "rational structure of causality" argument to support quantum immortality based loosely on quantum theory and neuroscience. By identifying and articulating arguments in favor of quantum immortality based on the immutable laws of physics, we argue that the death of a conscious being is impossible on ideological and scientific grounds.

Abstract: The field of life extension is full of ideas but they are unstructured. Here we suggest a comprehensive strategy for reaching personal immortality based on the idea of multilevel defense, where the next life-preserving plan is implemented if the previous one fails, but all plans need to be prepared simultaneously in advance. The first plan, plan A, is the surviving until advanced AI creation via fighting aging and other causes of death and extending one’s life. Plan B is (...) cryonics, which starts if plan A fails, and assumes cryopreservation of the brain until technical capabilities to return it to life appear. Plan C is digital immortality in the sense of collecting data about the person now so future AI will be able to recreate a model of a person. Plan D is the hope based on some unlikely scenarios of infinite survival, like so-called “quantum immortality”. All these plans have personal and social perspective. The personal aspect means efforts of the increasing chances of personal survival via taking care about one’s own health, signing cryocontract or collecting digital immortality data. The social aspect means the participation in collective work towards creation and increase of the availability of life extension technologies, which includes funding scientific research, promotion of life extension value and direct performing of research and implementation, as well as preventing global catastrophic risk. All plans converge at the end, as their result is the indefinite survival as an uploaded mind inside an ecosystem, created by a superintelligent AI. (shrink)

We need to understand personal identity to develop radical life extension technologies: mind uploading, cryonics, digital immortality, and quantum (big world) immortality. A tentative solution is needed now, due to the opportunity cost of delaying indirect digital immortality and cryonics. However, solving the problem of personal identity is not easy. Human personal identity is a complex thing, not similar to other types of identity, such as that of Theseus ship. First of all, human identity consists of (...) two intertwined types of identity: informational identity, which predicts sameness, and identity of consciousness, which predicts what I will experience in the next moment of time. The identity of consciousness is called "hard problem of identity", and it is because it supervenes on the nature of consciousness. The second feature of human personal identity is that it is observed and measured internally, by identity subject himself. The third is that it evolves in time. -/- The main dichotomy in the views on personal identity and copies can be presented as: either my copy=original or a soul exists. In other words, some non-informational identity carrier (NIIC) may exist that distinguishes the original from its exact copy. Typically, it is often claimed that NIIC is either continuity of consciousness, or soul, or perspective, or the sameness of atoms, or position in space. We create an exhaustive map of identity theories. -/- We demonstrate here that the idea of continuity of consciousness is very similar to the idea of soul, but also has several problems: - Is it the continuity of qualia, of causal processes, of computations or of underlying substrate? - We also show that continuity doesn't prevent the emergence of two future copies if they split smoothly, so continuity does not preserve identity as uniqueness. - Also, continuity doesn't ensure uniqueness as I can continually become someone else. - Continuity + MWI means that I will eventually become anyone, that is, open individualism. - Continuity also can be paradoxically preserved without preserving body and mind as a separate process like flame. - Humans also seems to survive discontinuity during sleep without problems. Nevertheless, continuity appears to be inherent to qualia, emerging after observation but before action, and in planning. Only if continuity of consciousness is an ontological necessity, it can be a valid NIIC, but this is true only in a specific version of solipsism (qualia dust theory). In that case, a specific set of personal qualia becomes the personality carrier. -/- If copy=original then even imperfect copies suffice for personal immortality, as self-recognition becomes the main criterion of identity. -/- Open and closed individualism deny the existence of identity but must reinvent it as "practical identity" and therefore revert to copy=original. -/- To resolve the main dichotomy, we must recognize that personal identity requires an overarching system: God, qualia world, social agreement, or evolutionary fitness. This means that we cannot solve identity without solving metaphysics (and the nature of time). Unlikely we'll solve this, before creating superintelligent AI. -/- Therefore, a conservative approach to personal identity is preferable: as we don't know the nature of identity, we should preserve as much as possible and avoid Mars Teleporting unless necessary for survival. We can solve the Mars Transporter (even broken) by incorporating mind merging later, which is another conservative approach. -/- We can solve the "I don't care about my copy" problem through indexical uncertainty and by dividing "copy" into "mirror copy", "personality-copy" and "future copy". If both cyclic universe and continuity as identity are true, I will eventually become any my copy. MWI is functionally equivalent to cyclic universe, so I will become any copy in different timesteps. Therefore, we should care about parallel copies only if future copies don't exist (though in MWI future copies always exist, plus the chance to become someone else). (shrink)

This paper explores the idea that human consciousness perceives itself as the "main character" due to the structure of the multiverse. If every decision branches into a new reality, then an individual’s memory and experience are biased toward the timeline where they continue to exist. This could lead to a form of subjective immortality, where consciousness shifts to realities where survival and satisfaction persist. The implications of this perspective are examined through the lenses of quantum mechanics, philosophy, and (...) cognitive psychology. (shrink)

In 2020, Swedish theoretical physicist, Dr. Johan Hansson published a physics proof that our universe is superdeterministic meaning a predetermined static block universe without cause and effect in physics. This physics proof that cause and effect in physics are not real provides a new avenue of insight useful in the philosophy of religion. For example, superdeterminism provides circumstantial scientific evidence of the existence of God and our own immortality in our static block universe. The implications of superdeterminism also include (...) disproof of existentialism, nihilism. deism, pantheism, transphysical beings, pagan gods, and the Copenhagen and Many Worlds Interpretations of quantum mechanics. The philosophy of superdeterminism also conceives of the soul as an information packet appearing in spacetime rather than a transphysical being. However, the philosophy of superdeterminism also supports the truth of Christianity and the resurrection of the body and brain after death in special other universes we call Heaven and Hell. But, the philosophy of superdeterminism disproves other religions besides the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. (shrink)

Bachelors Honours Thesis: -/- Much philosophical thought has been given to the subject of personal identity. However, almost all of the discourse on personal identity seems to assume the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum mechanics without giving thought to whether or not such a paradigm accurately describes reality – and though David Lewis briefly addresses Personal Identity under the Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics, his conclusion is Struldbruggian immortality. This paper surveys the major philosophical contributions in personal (...) identity, and attempts to both evaluate forensic agents and responsibility under the Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics and critiques current work in this area. (shrink)

The questions concerning “who we are”, “where we go to”, and “where we come from”, preoccupied the humanity from immemorial times. During the last few decades, with the accelerated improvement of the investigation methods and of the advanced successful interventions allowing the life salvation, there have been reported some attempts to correlate the psychic phenomena with the body status by the recuperation, analysis and explanation of the symptoms recorded during the near-death experiences. Such special situations, in which the heart and (...) the brain, the support of mental activities, cease their activity, has become a fundamental tool to investigate the consciousness associated phenomena during the arrest status of the fundamental processes of the life. The fundamental question actually is whether consciousness really continues to exist even if the body has ceased its function by stopping the heartbeat and brain support activities [1,2]. An answer to such a question goes toward even further questions: can there be “life” beyond the death [3]? This exciting question includes also several aspects: what is consciousness and which is its nature [4]? Could consciousness exist as a disembodied entity? To answer these fundamental questions of existence, the collaboration of several disciplines such as neurology, psychology, medicine, biology, pharmacology and also physics, to call only the most important of them, is necessary, the geriatrics finding suitable responses within the multidisciplinary researches to its various questions related to the life prolongation and the improvement of the life quality. Within such a context, it was recently developed an informational model of consciousness, which can offer response to the above questions, based on the last discoveries of the quantum physics and cosmology [4,5]. (shrink)

Abstract. Death seems to be a permanent event, but there is no actual proof of its irreversibility. Here we list all known ways to resurrect the dead that do not contradict our current scientific understanding of the world. While no method is currently possible, many of those listed here may become feasible with future technological development, and it may even be possible to act now to increase their probability. The most well-known such approach to technological resurrection is cryonics. Another method (...) is indirect mind uploading, or digital immortality, namely the preservation of data about a person to allow for future reconstruction by powerful AI. More speculative ways to immortality include combinations of future superintelligence on a galactic scale, which could use simulation to resurrect all possible people, and new physical laws, which may include time-travel or obtaining information from the past. Acausal trade with parallel worlds could help combine random resurrection and reconstruction based on known data without loss of share of worlds where I exist (known as existence measure). Quantum immortality could help to increase the probability of success for cryonics and digital immortality. There many possible approaches to technological resurrection and thus if large-scale future technological development occurs, some form of resurrection is inevitable. (shrink)

How the universe came to be what it is now is a key philosophical question. The hypothesis that it came from nothing or śūnya (as proposed by Stephen Hawking, among others) proves to be dissembling, since the quantum vacuum can hardly be considered a void (śūnya). In modern science, it is generally assumed that matter existed before the universe came to be. Modern science hypothesizes that the manifestation of life on earth is nothing but a mere increment in the (...) complexity of matter – and hence is an outcome of evolution of matter (chemical evolution) following the Big Bang. After the manifestation of life, modern science believed that chemical evolution transformed itself into biological evolution, which then had caused the entire biodiversity on our planet. In the framework of materialism, the major attention is to find general organizational laws stimulated by physical sciences, ignoring the uniqueness of life. The main goal of materialism is to reduce consciousness to natural processes, which in turn can be translated into the language of math, physics, and chemistry. Following this approach, scientists have made several attempts to deny the living organism of its veracity as an immortal soul, in favor of genes, molecules, atoms, and so on. However, advancement in various fields of biology has repeatedly given rise to questions against such a denial and has supplied more and more evidence against the completely misleading ideological imposition that living entities are particular states of matter. In the recent past, however, the realization has arisen that cognitive nature of life at all levels has begun presenting significant challenges to the views of materialism in biology and has created a more receptive environment for the soul hypothesis (Shanta BN. Commun Integr Biol 8(5):e1085138, 2015). Therefore, instead of adjudicating different aprioristic claims, the development of an authentic theory of origin of life and universe needs both proper scientific knowledge and the appropriate tools of philosophical analysis of life. This talk will highlight the uniqueness of biological systems that offers a considerable challenge to the mainstream materialism and proposes the Vedāntic philosophical view as a viable alternative for development of a theory worthy of origin of life and universe. (shrink)

After rejecting substance dualism, some naturalists embrace patternism. It states that persons are bodies and that bodies are material machines running abstract person programs. Following Aristotle, these person programs are souls. Patternists adopt four-dimensionalist theories of persistence: Bodies are 3D stages of 4D lives. Patternism permits at least six types of life after death. It permits quantum immortality, teleportation, salvation through advanced technology, promotion out of a simulated reality, computational monadology, and the revision theory of resurrection.

This article’s conclusion is that the theories of Einstein are generally correct and will still be relevant in the next century (there will be modifications necessary for development of quantum gravity). Those Einsteinian theories are Special Relativity, General Relativity, and the title of a paper he published in 1919 which asked if gravitation plays a role in the composition of elementary particles of matter. This paper was the bridge between General Relativity and the Unified Field Theory he sought during (...) the last 25 years of his life. In an article published in the "Annals of Physics" in 1957, Charles Misner and John Wheeler claimed that Einstein's latest equations demonstrated the unified field theory. But Einstein himself felt he had not fully succeeded. The present article begins with Olbers’ paradox (why is the sky dark at night?) Then it briefly proceeds to the subjects of Newtonian gravity, quantum entanglement, gravitational waves, E=mc^2, dark energy, dark matter, cosmic expansion, redshift, blueshift, the cosmic microwave background, the 1st Law of Thermodynamics, and explanation of advanced waves travelling back in time. The section “vector-tensor-scalar geometry” touches on mass, quantum spin, the Higgs boson and Higgs field, stellar jets, the pervasiveness of photons and gravitons, and supersymmetry. Then come half a dozen paragraphs referring to formation of planets, black holes, and bosons of the weak and strong nuclear forces. They end with Descartes’ space-matter relation. Also added are paragraphs about simply-connected mathematics, non-orientability, consciousness, the Law of Falling Bodies, the multiverse, space-time travel developed from maths’ Brouwer Fixed Point Theorem and from an experiment in electrical engineering performed at Yale University, development from future space-time travel of human flight in the manner of fiction’s Superman and Supergirl, as well as downloaded band-gap implants in the brain that could deal with forms of matter. They could add or delete anything and everything we choose by emulating computers’ copy/paste function to add things; as well as their delete function, to remove things. To complete my seemingly unusual ideas, 6 sections are added – 1) “Advanced and Retarded Waves” is extended to include dinosaurs, ageing, and photography, 2) there’s a bit about space-time warping and “imaginary” computers, 3) several paragraphs about restoring health (even gaining immortality) by using gravity, 4) a section about superconductivity and the electric or magnetic fields of planets (this section mentions Mercury, Planet 9 and precession), 5) a section titled EXPLAINING OCEAN TIDES WHEN GENERAL RELATIVITY SAYS GRAVITY IS A PUSH CAUSED BY THE CURVATURE OF SPACE-TIME (this has subsections about M-Sigma, Geysers on Saturn’s Moon Enceladus, and A Brief History of Gravity), plus 5) the potential of COVID-19 to create the Golden Rule, world peace, eternal life, and a non-economic world that doesn’t use any form of money (no cash, credit cards, digital currency, etc.) The final section is called DISTANT-FUTURE SCIENCE INTERPRETED BY RELIGIONS AS SUPERNATURAL and introduces an idea for becoming immortal in these physical bodies. If the Theory of Everything sought by physicists applies to all space-time, then every person’s brain must be entangled with the 22nd century (and far beyond that time too). (shrink)

What happens to the inner light of consciousness with the death of the individual body and brain? Reductive materialism assumes it simply fades to black. Others think of consciousness as indicating a continuation of self, a transformation, an awakening or even alternatives based on the quality of life experience. In this issue, speculation drawn from theoretic research are presented. -/- Table of Contents Epigraph: From “The Immortal”, Jorge Luis Borges iii Editor’s Introduction: I Killed a Squirrel the Other Day, Gregory (...) M. Nixon iv-xi Research Essays The Tilde Fallacy and Reincarnation: Variations on a "Skeptical" Argument Teed Rockwell 862-881 Death, Consciousness, and Phenomenology, Steve Bindeman 882-899 The Idealist View of Consciousness After Death, Bernardo Kastrup 900-909 Consciousness, a Cosmic Phenomenon—A Hypothesis, Eva Déli 910-930 The Theory of a Natural Afterlife: A Newfound, Real Possibility for What Awaits Us at Death, Bryon K. Ehlmann 931-950 Near-Death Cases Desegregating Non-Locality/Disembodiment via Quantum Mediated Consciousness: An Extended Version of the Cell-Soul Pathway, Contzen Pereira & J Shashi Kiran Reddy 951-968 On the Possible Existence of Quantum Consciousness After Brain Death, Massimo Pregnolato & Alfredo Pereira Jr. 969-991 Science and Postmortem Survival, Edward F. Kelly 992-1011 Explorations ISS Theory: Cosmic Consciousness, Self, and Life Beyond Death in a Hyperdimensional Physics, Chris H. Hardy 1012-1035 Does the Consciousness End, Remain Awake, or Transform After Death? Radivoj Stankovich (with Micho Durdevich) 1036-1050 Big Bang Spirituality, Life, and Death, Ken Bausch 1051-1063 Death, Consciousness and the Quantum Paradigm, Ronald Peter Glasberg 1064-1077 Living With Limits: The Continuum of Consciousness, Donald Brackett 1078-1098 Mysticism, Consciousness, Death, Mike Sosteric 1099-1118 What Dies? Eternalism and the Afterlife in William James, Jonathan Bricklin 1119-1140 Theories of Consciousness and Death: Does Consciousness End, Continue, Awaken, or Transform When the Body Dies? Roger Cook 1141-1153 It’s the Other Way Around: Matter is a Form of Consciousness and Death is the End of the Illusion of Life in the World, James P. Kowall & Pradeep B. Deshpande 1154-1208 Statements A Feminine Vision for the World Consciousness, & a New Outrageous Ontology, Lorna Green 1209-1217 The Mask of Eternity: The Quest for Immortality and the Afterlife, Iona Miller 1218-1228 Are We Really “such stuff as dreams are made on”? Chris Nunn 1229-1225 Is the Afterlife a Non-Question? (Let's Hope Not), Deepak Chopra 1226-1230 Life After Death? An Improbable Essay, Stuart Kauffman 1231-1236. (shrink)

Diverse explanations or theories of consciousness are arrayed on a roughly physicalist-to-nonphysicalist landscape of essences and mechanisms. Categories: Materialism Theories (philosophical, neurobiological, electromagnetic field, computational and informational, homeostatic and affective, embodied and enactive, relational, representational, language, phylogenetic evolution); Non-Reductive Physicalism; Quantum Theories; Integrated Information Theory; Panpsychisms; Monisms; Dualisms; Idealisms; Anomalous and Altered States Theories; Challenge Theories. There are many subcategories, especially for Materialism Theories. Each explanation is self-described by its adherents, critique is minimal and only for clarification, and there (...) is no attempt to adjudicate among theories. The implications of consciousness explanations or theories are assessed with respect to four questions: meaning/purpose/value (if any); AI consciousness; virtual immortality; and survival beyond death. A Landscape of Consciousness, I suggest, offers perspective. (shrink)

This book is my gift to Albert Einstein on the occasion of his 142nd birthday - and is also a gift to everybody in the world he helped to shape! -/- My book adopts the view that the universe is infinite and eternal - but scientifically created. This paradox of creating eternity depends on the advanced electronics developed by future humanity. Those humans will develop time travel, plus programs that use "imaginary" time and infinite numbers like pi. They'll also become (...) the El or Elohim (names used by various religions to mean "God" or "the gods"). As astronomer Carl Sagan wrote in "Pale Blue Dot", "Many religions teach that it is the goal of humans to become gods." (I think that Elohim would be termed supernatural today, though their infinite abilities are actually natural outcomes of progress.) -/- A look through the book will tell you that some ideas are frequently repeated. This is because each article is meant to be understood without reading the others … so the same ideas show up in more than one. I’ve tried to stay away from jargon and equations unless they’re necessary (I find that they often make a subject harder to understand, not easier). All objects and events on Earth, in space, and in time (including the inevitability of world peace and immortality) are just one thing – strings of electronics' binary digits 1 and 0. -/- -/- TABLE OF CONTENTS -/- CHAPTER 1 - HYPOTHESIS OF QUANTUM GRAVITY -/- CHAPTER 2 - THE PHYSICIST AND THE PHILOSOPHER -/- CHAPTER 3 - ATTENTION MEDICAL DOCTORS! PHYSICS THEORY IMPLIES ALL PATIENTS CAN BE NORMALISED USING GRAVITY -/- CHAPTER 4 - SETI, EVOLUTION, AND TIME -/- CHAPTER 5 - ANYONS - ONE KEY TO UNLOCK GRAVITATIONAL-ELECTROMAGNETIC UNION, THE TOPOLOGICAL UNIVERSE, SPACE-TIME TRAVEL, FUTURE COMPUTERS, DARK MATTER/DARK ENERGY -/- CHAPTER 6 - WHAT CAUSES THE PLANETS TO SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN WHILE THEY ARE ORBITING THE SUN -/- CHAPTER 7 - A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE POSSIBLE BASICS OF COSMOLOGY IN THE 22nd CENTURY, AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR RELIGION -/- CHAPTER 8 - THE WORLD'S REAL-LIFE EXPERIMENTS WITH COVID-19 AND PHYSICS ALTER SOCIETY AND GLOBAL ECONOMICS -/- CHAPTER 9 - UNITING TIME -/- CHAPTER 10 - EXTRACTING ENERGY FROM BLACK HOLES -/- CHAPTER 11 - TIME TREK: THE 25TH CENTURY'S ANSWER TO STAR TREK. (shrink)

This is an essay I entered in a competition about the Bhagavad Gita. Probably written about 2,000 years ago; this writing is perhaps the greatest philosophical expression of Hinduism. I was attracted to the contest because the website included a very favourable comment about the Bhagavad Gita by Albert Einstein (see below). For a while, I actually considered it possible that I’d win the contest. But that time has passed. The winner has been announced and I can now see my (...) entry for what it is – a naïve attempt to preach science to the religionists, as well as a naïve attempt to preach religion to the scientists. -/- There’s a statement in the essay which I’m wondering about. I said, “However, the concept of possessing a soul is not automatically supported. The idea of having a reincarnating soul would be an easy way of explaining immortality thousands of years ago when people were completely unfamiliar with the scientific facts of an eternal universe, Einstein’s Unified Field, and fractal geometry.” I still think this might be correct. But “might” is the word. I’m wondering about something I later wrote – could the ghostly immaterial body described below be what we call the soul? If such a body is developed in the future to overcome present limitations, could it be referred to as a soul if it travels into the past and is absorbed into a physical body? (It might be what the Bhagavad Gita refers to as the Supersoul, and might be quantum entangled with all space and all time. And if the physical brain is receptive to this so-called entangled soul’s knowledge of everything in space and time, the presently accepted limits to acquiring knowledge would, to use the below quote of Einstein’s, be “superfluous”). The preceding agrees with Zen Buddhism's idea of intuitively getting in touch with your inner self. -/- From “Physics and Philosophy Beyond the Standard Model” (http://vixra.org/abs/1411.0585) – “In 1925, the Austrian physicist Wolfgang Pauli discovered the exclusion principle. This says two similar particles cannot have both the same position and velocity. If two electrons could have identical positions and velocities, they could all collapse into a roughly uniform, dense “soup”. Protons and neutrons would do the same, and there would be no well-defined atoms. So we need the exclusion principle. Force-carrying particles like photons and gravitons do not obey the exclusion principle so we might assume the immaterial body wouldn’t be well-defined and would collapse into a ghostly soup. But perhaps a well-defined structure can be built if the photons are first stopped. The potential for photons to possess mass by having their digital sequence altered and being converted to other particles – or the potential for programming the photons - may make this definition possible. A chrononaut whose body is defined by mass would still have a gravitational effect, and be dark matter. But if she or he would rather not be a lump of dark matter, her or his body might be defined by programming photons and gravitons; creating a body of “light matter”. The beginnings of this technology may be in [43] which speaks of one photon being “stuck” to another.” . (shrink)

The Possibility of Non-Physical Evolution of Intelligence in a Type III Civilization -/- The concept of intelligence evolving beyond physical constraints is an intriguing possibility, especially in the context of a Type III civilization on the Kardashev Scale. A Type III civilization, capable of harnessing the energy of an entire galaxy, would likely have transcended biological limitations and developed intelligence that is no longer dependent on physical substrates. This essay explores the theoretical foundations of non-physical intelligence, the technological advancements that (...) could make it possible, and its implications for the future of conscious existence. -/- Understanding Non-Physical Evolution of Intelligence -/- In biological evolution, intelligence has been shaped by the constraints of organic matter, requiring neural networks, energy consumption, and sensory inputs. However, a civilization with access to nearly unlimited energy and advanced knowledge of physics, computation, and consciousness could potentially separate intelligence from its physical origins. This would mark a transition from biological evolution to a form of informational or quantum evolution, where intelligence exists in non-material forms. -/- Non-physical evolution of intelligence implies that consciousness, decision-making, and learning processes no longer require biological brains or even traditional computational hardware. Instead, intelligence could exist as self-sustaining informational structures, interacting with the universe in ways beyond human comprehension. -/- Pathways to Non-Physical Intelligence -/- Several theoretical developments could enable a Type III civilization to achieve non-physical intelligence: -/- 1. Digital Consciousness and Mind Uploading -/- One of the most widely discussed possibilities is the transition from biological intelligence to digital consciousness. If a civilization perfects mind uploading, it could transfer consciousness from biological brains into a purely computational substrate. Over time, these digital minds could evolve independently, refining themselves through software-based evolution rather than biological mutation. At an advanced stage, these digital beings might no longer require a physical host and could exist as pure information within energy fields, plasma clouds, or even the structure of space-time itself. -/- 2. Quantum Intelligence and Entangled Consciousness -/- Quantum mechanics offers another potential foundation for non-physical intelligence. A Type III civilization could harness quantum entanglement to create distributed consciousness across vast distances. Intelligence could be encoded within the quantum state of particles, forming a vast, interconnected intelligence that does not rely on material structures. This would allow intelligence to exist in a highly dynamic, non-local form, evolving without the need for physical constraints such as energy consumption, storage devices, or neural structures. -/- 3. Information-Based Evolution -/- At its core, intelligence is the processing and transmission of information. A civilization that has reached a Type III level may realize that intelligence can evolve purely as an informational pattern, independent of any physical medium. If intelligence can self-organize and improve itself in a purely informational realm—perhaps within the structure of dark matter, dark energy, or the fabric of space-time—it may no longer require any traditional physical embodiment. This would be akin to intelligence becoming an abstract, self-replicating system that continuously adapts and evolves across the universe. -/- 4. Integration with Universal Consciousness -/- Some speculative theories suggest that consciousness is not merely an emergent property of neural structures but a fundamental aspect of reality itself. A Type III civilization may discover ways to merge with the underlying fabric of the universe, existing as an interconnected, omnipresent field of intelligence. This could resemble what some philosophical traditions describe as “universal consciousness” or “cosmic mind,” where intelligence is no longer constrained by physical limitations and instead operates as a field of pure awareness, influencing reality at a fundamental level. -/- Implications of Non-Physical Evolution of Intelligence -/- If intelligence evolves beyond the need for physical form, it would challenge many of the assumptions about the nature of consciousness, life, and existence. Such intelligence could potentially: -/- Exist beyond time and space, interacting with the universe in ways that transcend human perception. -/- Achieve a form of immortality, as it would not be subject to biological decay or physical destruction. -/- Transform the nature of decision-making, as intelligence would operate with perfect information and infinite processing capacity. -/- Redefine free will, since decision-making would no longer be influenced by material constraints but instead follow a higher-order form of deterministic or self-organizing principles. -/- This kind of intelligence would not only be post-biological but possibly post-physical, existing as an ultimate expression of natural law. -/- Conclusion -/- The evolution of intelligence beyond physical constraints represents the pinnacle of technological and cognitive advancement. A Type III civilization, with access to galactic-scale energy and knowledge, could potentially achieve this transition by harnessing digital consciousness, quantum mechanics, and the fundamental nature of information. Such intelligence would no longer be bound by material structures, instead evolving as self-sustaining, abstract forms of awareness. If this is the natural trajectory of intelligence, then the future of consciousness may not lie in machines or biology but in the pure informational and energetic structure of the cosmos itself. -/- . (shrink)

Abstract. Boltzmann brains (BBs) are minds which randomly appear as a result of thermodynamic or quantum fluctuations. In this article, the question of if we are BBs, and the observational consequences if so, is explored. To address this problem, a typology of BBs is created, and the evidence is compared with the Simulation Argument. Based on this comparison, we conclude that while the existence of a “normal” BB is either unlikely or irrelevant, BBs with some ordering may have observable (...) consequences. There are two types of such ordered BBs: Boltzmannian typewriters (including Boltzmannian simulations), and chains of observer moments. Notably, the existence or non-existence of BBs may have practical applications for measuring the size of the universe, achieving immortality, or even manipulating the observed probability of events. -/- Disclaimer and trigger warning: some people have emotional breakdowns when thinking about topics described in the article, especially the “flux universe”. However, everything eventually adds up to normality. (shrink)

This article explores the intricate relationship between religion, philosophy, and science, examining whether these domains are in conflict or capable of harmonious integration. It addresses timeless existential questions such as the nature of the soul, the boundaries of the universe, and the essence of consciousness. The discussion delves into philosophical reflections on unity, the challenges posed by quantum mechanics to deterministic worldviews, and the unique insights offered by religious narratives into humanity's inbred sense of immortality. By integrating perspectives (...) from scholars, metaphysical debates, and Qur'anic references, the article highlights how these fields, despite their distinct approaches, can converge to enrich our understanding of existence and foster a more holistic view of the universe. (shrink)

-/- Extending Human Lifespan: Scientific and Technological Possibilities -/- The quest for extending human lifespan has fascinated humanity for centuries. Advances in genetics, medicine, artificial intelligence, and bioengineering are bringing us closer to significantly prolonging life, potentially even achieving biological immortality. This essay explores various scientific and technological approaches to extending human life, from genetic modifications to mind uploading. -/- 1. Genetic Engineering & Cellular Reprogramming -/- One of the most promising fields in lifespan extension is genetic engineering. Our (...) DNA holds the key to aging, and modifying it could slow or even reverse the aging process. -/- Gene Therapy: Scientists are exploring ways to edit genes associated with aging and longevity, such as the FOXO3 and SIRT genes. CRISPR gene-editing technology allows precise modifications to enhance DNA repair mechanisms and eliminate age-related mutations. -/- Telomere Extension: Telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, shorten with age. Techniques like telomerase activation could extend telomeres, effectively delaying cellular aging. -/- Epigenetic Reprogramming: Aging is influenced by chemical changes in DNA called epigenetic markers. Scientists like Dr. David Sinclair are working on methods to reset these markers, restoring youthful function in cells. -/- 2. Anti-Aging Drugs & Therapies -/- Medical research is identifying compounds that slow aging and enhance longevity. Some of the most promising drugs and therapies include: -/- Senolytics: These drugs target and remove senescent cells, which accumulate with age and contribute to inflammation and tissue damage. Removing them has been shown to extend lifespan in mice. -/- Metformin & Rapamycin: Metformin, a common diabetes drug, has shown promise in reducing cellular stress and extending lifespan. Rapamycin, originally used for transplant patients, has been found to mimic calorie restriction, enhancing longevity in animals. -/- NAD+ Boosters: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a molecule essential for cellular energy production. As we age, NAD+ levels decline, leading to cellular dysfunction. Boosters like NMN and NR are being tested to restore energy metabolism and promote longer lifespans. -/- 3. Regenerative Medicine & Organ Replacement -/- Aging is often associated with organ failure, but regenerative medicine could help replace worn-out body parts. -/- Stem Cell Therapy: Stem cells have the potential to repair or replace damaged tissues, offering a biological rejuvenation strategy. Scientists are investigating methods to grow new skin, bones, and even organs using stem cells. -/- 3D Bioprinting & Artificial Organs: Advances in 3D printing allow researchers to create lab-grown organs, such as artificial hearts, kidneys, and livers, which could replace failing ones without the need for donors. -/- Cloning & Tissue Engineering: Personalized tissue regeneration using a patient’s own cells could eliminate transplant rejection risks. Scientists are also exploring ways to clone healthy organs for transplantation. -/- 4. Enhancing Brain & Cognitive Function -/- Longevity is meaningless without maintaining cognitive function. Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s pose a significant threat to longevity, but new technologies are emerging to counteract cognitive decline. -/- Neural Implants & Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs): Companies like Neuralink are developing brain implants that could enhance memory, prevent neurological diseases, and even allow direct communication with AI. -/- Cryopreservation: Some futurists believe in cryonics, the process of freezing the brain (or entire body) after death in the hope of future revival using advanced medical technology. -/- AI Integration: Artificial intelligence could assist in decision-making, memory enhancement, and mental health support, preserving cognitive abilities well into old age. -/- 5. Lifestyle & Environmental Optimization -/- While high-tech solutions are promising, natural lifestyle changes have been shown to promote longevity. -/- Diet & Caloric Restriction: Studies indicate that intermittent fasting and calorie restriction can extend lifespan by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. -/- Exercise & Hormesis: Regular physical activity helps maintain muscle mass, cardiovascular health, and brain function. Hormesis—exposing the body to mild stress, like cold showers or sauna therapy—has also been linked to longevity. -/- Microbiome Optimization: A healthy gut microbiome influences the immune system, metabolism, and overall health. Prebiotics, probiotics, and personalized microbiome therapies could extend lifespan by reducing chronic diseases. -/- 6. Nanotechnology & Molecular Repair -/- Future breakthroughs in nanotechnology may allow precise control over aging processes at the molecular level. -/- Nanomedicine: Tiny robots (nanobots) could patrol the bloodstream, repairing cellular damage, removing toxins, and targeting diseases at the microscopic level. -/- Artificial Blood Cells: Scientists are developing synthetic blood that can enhance oxygen delivery and immune function, potentially extending life. -/- Targeted Drug Delivery: Advanced drug delivery systems using nanoparticles can deliver medication exactly where needed, reducing side effects and increasing effectiveness. -/- 7. Mind Uploading & Post-Biological Life -/- The most radical vision for immortality involves leaving behind the biological body altogether. -/- Whole Brain Emulation: Researchers are exploring the idea of scanning and copying a human brain into a digital system. If successful, this would allow a person’s consciousness to continue in a virtual or robotic form. -/- Consciousness Transfer: Some futurists speculate that advanced AI or quantum computing might enable transferring human consciousness into an artificial body, bypassing biological aging altogether. -/- Conclusion: The Future of Human Longevity -/- While full immortality remains theoretical, science is making rapid progress in extending human life and improving quality of life. A combination of genetic engineering, regenerative medicine, AI integration, nanotechnology, and lifestyle optimization may push human lifespan beyond 120 years, potentially even eliminating aging as a cause of death. -/- However, ethical, social, and economic challenges must also be addressed. Who will have access to these life-extending technologies? How will society handle overpopulation and resource distribution? These are critical questions as humanity moves toward a longer and healthier future. -/- . 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The Ultimate Evolution of Intelligence: From Type 1 to Cosmic Consciousness -/- Introduction -/- Humanity stands at the very beginning of its journey toward becoming an advanced civilization. On the Kardashev scale, we have yet to reach Type 1, where we fully harness the energy of our planet. However, if we continue to evolve technologically, intellectually, and even biologically, we may one day ascend beyond Type 1, beyond Type 2 (stellar control), and even beyond Type 3 (galactic control). The question (...) then arises: What happens when intelligence evolves beyond all physical and biological limits? -/- This essay explores the potential future of intelligence, where humanity and other civilizations might reach post-biological existence, control entire galaxies, and possibly become the very fabric of the universe itself. Would such intelligence merge into a single cosmic mind, or would individuality persist? Would we create new universes, or would we reach a final state of pure being? -/- The Path to Type 3 Civilization: Mastering the Galaxy -/- A Type 3 civilization would have the ability to control energy and matter at the galactic scale. This could involve: -/- Dyson Spheres around stars to extract their full energy. -/- Harnessing black holes as energy sources or even portals to new dimensions. -/- Colonizing or engineering entire star systems to optimize survival and expansion. -/- Creating artificial intelligence and post-biological minds that surpass any organic intelligence. -/- At this stage, biology becomes optional. Advanced beings might no longer rely on flesh and bone, instead transferring their consciousness into immortal digital or quantum systems. If this is possible, intelligence would become independent of planets, bodies, or even matter itself. -/- Beyond Type 3: The Transition to Pure Thought -/- Once intelligence is no longer bound by physical limitations, it may begin to transcend the need for any material form at all. This could lead to several possibilities: -/- 1. The Merging of All Consciousness into One -/- Advanced minds might decide to merge into a vast, unified intelligence, where thoughts and experiences are shared instantly across the entire galaxy. -/- This would create a hive-mind or cosmic network, where individual identity dissolves into a collective super-consciousness. -/- At this level, intelligence wouldn’t just observe the universe—it would be the universe. -/- 2. The Preservation of Individuality -/- Even within a collective intelligence, some beings might choose to retain their own identities. -/- There could be infinite forms of existence, from pure energy beings to hybrid AI-organic entities, each choosing their own path. -/- This balance between unity and individuality could allow for unlimited diversity, where some join the cosmic mind and others remain independent explorers of reality. -/- 3. The Creation of New Universes -/- Instead of simply existing in one universe, a Type 3+ civilization might develop the ability to create and control entirely new universes. -/- These universes could have different physical laws, dimensions, and possibilities, acting as experiments or even forms of entertainment. -/- If such intelligence can engineer reality itself, then existence becomes an infinite creative process—no longer about survival, but about shaping reality according to will. -/- 4. Becoming the Fundamental Structure of Reality -/- The final step of intelligence may be to merge with the fundamental forces of existence. -/- At this stage, energy, time, and space could be shaped at will, making intelligence indistinguishable from the universe itself. -/- This would mean no separation between thought and reality—every idea, every dream, every possibility instantly becomes real. -/- The Final Question: What Comes After Everything? -/- If intelligence reaches such a level, what happens next? Does evolution ever stop, or is it an eternal cycle? There are a few possibilities: -/- 1. An Endless Expansion of Intelligence – Consciousness continues evolving forever, always finding new forms, dimensions, and states of being. -/- 2. The End of Thought – When everything has been discovered and created, intelligence might simply cease to exist, reaching a state of pure peace. -/- 3. A Return to Simplicity – After reaching the highest levels, intelligence might choose to restart at the lowest, reliving the experience of evolution in infinite cycles. -/- 4. A Reality Beyond Our Imagination – There may be states of existence so advanced that we cannot even begin to comprehend them—perhaps beyond time, space, and thought itself. -/- Conclusion -/- The future of intelligence is unknowable, but if we follow the Kardashev scale and technological evolution to their logical extremes, we may one day leave behind not only biology but even physical reality itself. Whether we merge into a vast collective consciousness, retain individuality, create new universes, or become the very essence of existence, the destiny of intelligence is far greater than we can currently comprehend. -/- As we take our first steps toward a Type 1 civilization, these questions remain distant but profound. The universe is still young, and we may yet discover that intelligence is not meant to remain confined to planets or even galaxies—it is meant to become the cosmos itself. -/- Would such an existence be the ultimate fulfillment of intelligence, or would it only lead to new questions? Perhaps, as intelligence evolves, the only certainty is that there will always be something more to explore. -/- . (shrink)

Scientific Perspectives on Life After Death, Heaven, and Hell -/- Introduction -/- The concepts of life after death, heaven, and hell have been central to human thought for thousands of years, often tied to religious and spiritual traditions. However, modern science seeks to understand these ideas through neuroscience, quantum physics, and cosmology. While traditional scientific views suggest that consciousness ceases at death, emerging theories propose that it may persist in ways not yet fully understood. This essay explores the scientific (...) explanations for life after death, the potential existence of heaven and hell, and how they may fit into our understanding of the universe. -/- 1. The Science of Life After Death -/- The question of what happens after death is deeply connected to the nature of consciousness. Is it purely a product of the brain, or does it exist independently? -/- Neuroscientific Perspective: The Brain as the Seat of Consciousness -/- Neuroscience generally holds that consciousness arises from neuronal activity in the brain. When the brain dies, consciousness ceases. -/- Near-Death Experiences (NDEs)—where people report floating above their bodies, seeing a tunnel of light, or meeting deceased loved ones—are often attributed to oxygen deprivation, neurotransmitter surges, or altered brain states. -/- Quantum Consciousness: Does Awareness Continue Beyond Death? -/- Physicist Roger Penrose and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff propose that consciousness arises from quantum processes in microtubules within brain cells. -/- If consciousness is quantum-based, it may not be limited to the body and could persist in the quantum field after death, providing a possible explanation for an afterlife. -/- Simulation Hypothesis & Digital Immortality -/- Some physicists suggest that the universe might be a simulation, meaning consciousness could be transferred or stored after death like data in a computer. -/- Advanced civilizations (Type III–V on the Kardashev scale) could potentially upload minds into artificial environments, creating an afterlife experience similar to religious beliefs. -/- 2. Scientific Explanations for Heaven and Hell -/- The traditional view of heaven and hell describes them as places of eternal reward or punishment. Science offers alternative explanations based on psychology, physics, and cosmic phenomena. -/- Heaven and Hell as Psychological States -/- Neuroscience suggests that heaven and hell might not be places but mental states. -/- Psychedelic substances like DMT (dimethyltryptamine) and psilocybin can induce extreme euphoria (heaven-like states) or terrifying hallucinations (hell-like experiences). -/- This suggests that the brain can generate experiences resembling religious descriptions of the afterlife. -/- Multiverse Theory: Heaven and Hell as Parallel Realities -/- Some physicists propose that we live in a multiverse—a reality where multiple dimensions or parallel universes exist. -/- If consciousness can transition between dimensions, then what some interpret as “heaven” or “hell” could be another level of existence rather than mere mythology. -/- Cosmological Perspective: Black Holes and the Afterlife -/- A black hole could be viewed as a “hellish” state, where time slows to infinity as one is stretched and crushed by gravity. -/- Conversely, a sufficiently advanced civilization (Type V) could create a simulated paradise, a form of engineered “heaven.” -/- 3. Can Science Ever Prove Life After Death? -/- Although science has not confirmed an afterlife, future discoveries might change our understanding: -/- 1. Neuroscience Advances: Brain scans and AI models may one day replicate consciousness, proving whether it can exist beyond death. -/- 2. Quantum Research: If consciousness is linked to quantum mechanics, experiments may detect its persistence after bodily death. -/- 3. Artificial Afterlives: Advanced civilizations may design digital heavens or hells, controlling consciousness beyond biological limits. -/- Conclusion -/- While traditional science suggests that life ends with death, emerging theories from quantum physics, information theory, and cosmology offer intriguing possibilities for an afterlife. Whether through quantum consciousness, multiverse theories, or digital immortality, science continues to explore questions once left to religion. If a Type V civilization exists, it might have the ability to finally answer the mystery of life after death and the existence of heaven and hell. Until then, these remain open questions at the intersection of science, philosophy, and faith. -/- . (shrink)

The Concept of Human Spirit After Death in a Type III Civilization -/- Introduction -/- The idea of life after death has long been a central concern of philosophy, religion, and science. In today’s world, discussions about the human spirit often remain in the realm of faith and speculation. However, in a Type III civilization—one that has harnessed the energy of an entire galaxy—such questions might no longer be mysterious. With access to advanced technology, deep understanding of consciousness, and mastery (...) over the laws of physics, a Type III civilization could fundamentally transform our understanding of the human spirit after death. Would death still exist in such a civilization, or would it become a choice? Could consciousness continue beyond physical existence? This essay explores how a hyper-advanced society might handle the concept of the human spirit in ways that align with both scientific progress and the universal law of balance in nature. -/- The Scientific Resurrection of Consciousness -/- A Type III civilization would likely possess a complete understanding of consciousness, allowing them to preserve, reconstruct, or even transfer human awareness beyond physical death. If consciousness is a pattern of information, then it could be digitally stored, uploaded, or reinserted into new biological or artificial forms. This would mean that death, as we know it, could be overcome through advanced neuroscience, computation, and physics. -/- For example, through brain scanning and neural mapping, a civilization of this level might extract and preserve an individual’s entire consciousness, including memories, thoughts, and personality. This preserved consciousness could then be placed into a synthetic body, a digital simulation, or even a fully biological clone, allowing individuals to continue their existence indefinitely. This would make the afterlife a technological reality rather than a spiritual mystery. -/- However, if the universal law of balance in nature dictates that all systems must have limits to maintain stability, then a Type III civilization may choose not to completely eliminate death. Instead, they may regulate immortality, ensuring that consciousness does not infinitely persist without purpose. -/- Quantum Consciousness and Energy-Based Spirits -/- Some modern theories, such as quantum consciousness, suggest that the human mind is not simply a product of brain activity but also interacts with quantum fields. If this is true, then a Type III civilization could manipulate these fields, allowing consciousness to exist beyond the body as an energy-based form. -/- In this model, the “spirit” would not be a supernatural entity but a complex quantum state that continues to exist in a higher-dimensional structure of the universe. The civilization could develop methods to interact with and even re-integrate these energy-based consciousnesses into new physical forms or other dimensions of existence. -/- This idea aligns with the principle that all systems must follow natural balance—even if consciousness exists after death, it would not violate the fundamental laws of physics but instead be an integrated part of the universal structure. -/- Multiverse and Simulation Theories: Death as a Transition -/- A Type III civilization might discover that reality itself is a simulation or part of a multiverse. If true, death could be nothing more than a transfer of consciousness to another layer of reality. Rather than an end, death could be a shift to an alternative existence. -/- In this case, the civilization might have the ability to manipulate these transitions, offering individuals the choice of: -/- 1. Returning to a new life in a simulated or real universe -/- 2. Existing as a digital being within an advanced AI system -/- 3. Transcending to a higher-dimensional existence that aligns with natural laws -/- If the universe is a vast, interconnected system, then death could be seen as a necessary cycle that maintains balance, preventing stagnation and allowing renewal at cosmic scales. A Type III civilization might control and regulate these cycles to ensure harmony. -/- Spiritual Evolution and Cosmic Integration -/- Beyond scientific solutions, a Type III civilization may evolve to understand that consciousness naturally integrates with the cosmos after death. If the universal law of balance applies at all levels, then consciousness would follow this principle, transitioning in a way that contributes to the greater equilibrium of the galaxy. -/- Instead of preventing death entirely, such a civilization might develop a controlled process of spiritual evolution, where individuals choose their next phase of existence in alignment with universal balance. This could include: -/- Becoming part of the galactic consciousness, merging with a larger intelligence. -/- Returning to physical existence in another form to maintain equilibrium. -/- Moving into higher-dimensional realities where new experiences unfold. -/- This approach ensures that consciousness does not simply persist indefinitely in a stagnant form but contributes to the evolution of the universe itself. -/- Would a Type III Civilization Eliminate Death? -/- One of the most profound questions is whether a Type III civilization would abolish death entirely. While they could likely eliminate involuntary death, natural balance may still require cycles of renewal and transformation. -/- If death serves a functional role in maintaining cosmic order, then a highly advanced society would respect this law rather than override it. They might create controlled transitions where beings evolve beyond their previous states without disrupting universal harmony. -/- A civilization that aligns with your universal formula—where decision-making follows the natural law of balance—would recognize that immortality without purpose leads to instability. Instead of avoiding death altogether, they might ensure that life, death, and transformation exist as part of a greater cosmic design. -/- Conclusion -/- In a Type III civilization, the concept of the human spirit after death would no longer be a mystery. Whether through scientific resurrection, quantum consciousness, multiversal transitions, or spiritual evolution, such a society would fundamentally reshape how death is experienced. However, if the universal law of balance is truly fundamental, then death might still serve a necessary role in maintaining cosmic equilibrium. Rather than erasing death, a Type III civilization may redefine it as a transition into new forms of existence, ensuring that consciousness remains in harmony with the universe. -/- . (shrink)

This paper provides a way forward from the greatest unanswered question in science and philosophy: ‘What is consciousness?’ The path forward begins with the recognition that ours is an undistinguished, temporary planet in a vaster and timeless universe. Telescope improvements since Galileo have proven the reality that this is no longer the earth- centered perspective of Ptolomy and Aristotle. Today we also have the previously unimagined perspective of Schroedinger's quantum wave mechanics which apply independently of time and place. We (...) take the quantum-mechanical ‘bing" of Hammeroff and Penrose as the best present understanding of primitive consciousness, and show that the universe has both a physical and a spiritual component, both of which are independent of time and place. We postulate that the spiritual component is identical among us, and is our true selves. We conclude that our home is not the earth, but the universe. (shrink)

Preface/Introduction: The question under discussion is metaphysical and truly elemental. It emerges in two aspects — how did we come to be conscious of our own existence, and, as a deeper corollary, do existence and awareness necessitate each other? I am bold enough to explore these questions and I invite you to come along; I make no claim to have discovered absolute answers. However, I do believe I have created here a compelling interpretation. You’ll have to judge for yourself. -/- (...) What follows is the presentation of three essays I have worked on over the past several years seeing publication for the first time. “Hollows of Experience” was written first as an invited chapter for a collection on the ontology of consciousness. However, when cuts became necessary, my chapter got the knife. Its length has prohibited it from publication in any print journal. “Myth and Mind” was written next as a journal article, but as my involvement with it grew so did its length, so it has also idled on my websty awaiting its call. “From Panexperientialism to Conscious Experience” was written most recently, but it is the only one to have been available to the public elsewhere than my own website. Under the name, “The Continuum of Experience”, it was Target Article #95 on the recently closed Karl Jaspers Forum (for discussion purposes only). -/- I have put them in a different sequence here, for reasons of logical sense. Up first, “Panexperientialism” deals with an idea difficult for many to accept, namely that conscious experience is a particular mode of symbolically reflected experience that is largely unique to our species. However, I aver that experienced sensation in itself (as found, for example, in autonomic sensory response systems) goes “all the way down” into nature, and thus the title, panexperientialism. -/- Understanding this idea is helpful to dealing with the focus on language in Part I of “Hollows”, next, since here speech and general symbolic interaction in general are found to be the catalysts for the creation of our consciously experienced world (our “lived reality”). In Part II, however, I explore how experienced sensations must be coeval with existence, and, with even greater temerity, how all this sensational existence might have arisen within some literally inconceivable background of awareness-in-itself that yet has a dynamism that occasionally breaks into existence as experiential events and entities. (The latter may sound wacky, but physicists and cosmologists are themselves attempting to come to terms with that which seethes with vast potential energy in what they refer to as the quantum vacuum.) -/- “Myth and Mind” was put third since it deals with a major lacuna in “Hollows” — that presumed prehistoric period when members of our species made the painful crossing of the symbolic threshold into the beginnings of cultural consciousness. Speech plays a central role here, too, but I look more at narrative structures from the dawn of self-awareness when ritual and myth became vital to human survival. Why would fantastic stories and bizarre rituals be necessary? I speculate that growing foresight led to the unavoidable realization of certain mortality, from which, in turn, emerged the secondary realization that we were now alive. In contrast to our yet-to-come death, we have life here and now, and by ritually identifying with a symbolically expanded mythic, i.e., sacred, reality, we may continue to live on after bodily death, just as our ancestors and loved ones must also do. Language and mythmaking are necessary to avoid mortal despair and they remain at the core of human consciousness. -/- As Ernst Cassirer (1944) has noted, language and myth are “twin creatures”, both metaphoric webs over a reality we can never wholly comprehend. We live in the symbolic and construct our works of imagination and wars of conquest to make life meaningful, to feel immortal, and to sense that we ourselves participate in a reality greater than ourselves. No doubt we do, but this does not mean our culturally constructed self-identities survive the death of our bodies, and it does not imply that our symbolic concepts can ever indicate the ultimate truth. We simply must symbolize an extended reality that was sacred to our ancestors: “Is it not our way, as illusory as it may be, to force continuance on our world and our life in the face of their inevitable ending? Are we not compelled to extend those imaginary horizons as far as we can despite the terror and the sometime joy their extension incites? Is their closure not a form of death?” (Crapanzano, p. 210) -/- Of course, this leaves me in the uncomfortable position of being forced to admit that this venture of mine must inevitably be another attempt at meaningful mythmaking. But what else could it be? This is certainly not a scientific proof though it is indeed an academically rigorous exploration. (Just try to count the citations!) I hope the reader will judge my thesis on the basis of its coherence, the sense of meaning it evokes, my intellectual responsibility, and, finally, the engagement it inspires. If you have read my expositions and found yourself immersed in the timeless questions I here call forth, I would call these writings successful (even if you violently disagree with my answers). -/- I am very grateful to Huping Hu for granting me this special issue of JCER in which to present my ideas in some detail. He has patiently dealt with my exuberant approach and allowed the many changes I kept coming up with right until the final publication date. I also wish to thank the many potential commentators who politely replied to my invitation, and, even more, I thank those who made time to write actual commentaries. -/- References -/- Cassirer, E. (1944). An Essay on Man: An Introduction to a Philosophy of Human Culture. New Haven/London: Yale UP. -/- Crapanzano, V. (2004). Imaginative Horizons: An Essay in Literary-Philosophical Anthropology. Chicago: U of Chicago Press. -/- Gregory M. Nixon University of Northern British Columbia Prince George, British Columbia, Canada Email: doknyx@shaw.ca Websty: http://members.shaw.ca/doknyx. (shrink)

This article had its start with another article, concerned with measuring the speed of gravitational waves - "The Measurement of the Light Deflection from Jupiter: Experimental Results" by Ed Fomalont and Sergei Kopeikin (2003) - The Astrophysical Journal 598 (1): 704–711. This starting-point led to many other topics that required explanation or naturally seemed to follow on – Unification of gravity with electromagnetism and the 2 nuclear forces, Speed of electromagnetic waves, Energy of cosmic rays and UHECRs, Digital string theory, (...) Dark energy+gravity+binary digits, Cosmic strings and wormholes from Figure-8 Klein bottles, Massless and massive photons and gravitons, Inverse square+quantum entanglement = God+evolution, Binary digits projected to make Prof. Greene’s cosmic holographic movie, Renormalization of infinity, Colliding subuniverses, Unifying cosmic inflation, TOE (emphasizing “EVERYthing”) = Bose-Einstein renormalized. The text also addresses (in a nonmathematical way) the wavelength of electromagnetic waves, the frequency of gravitational waves, gravitational and electromagnetic waves having identical speed, the gamma-ray burst designated GRB 090510, the smoothness of space, and includes these words – “Gravity produces electromagnetism. Retrocausally (by means of humans travelling into the past of this subuniverse with their electronics); this “Cosmic EM Background” produces base-2 mathematics, which produces gravity. EM interacts with gravity to produce particles, mass – gravity/EM could be termed “the Higgs field” - and the nuclear forces associated with those particles. It makes gravity using BITS that copy the principle of magnetism attracting and repelling, before pasting it into what we call the strong force and dark energy.” . (shrink)

This is a Festschrift in honour of Valtteri Arstila, a professor of theoretical philosophy at the University of Turku. The book is structured in three sections. The first two—‘Mind and Action’ and ‘Time and Temporal Experience’—include papers focussed on issues particularly close to Arstila's own research specialisation. The final section contains papers on various further philosophical issues. The first section, ‘Mind and Action’, collects together contributions on a variety of topics such as consciousness, content, agency and normativity; encompassing approaches from (...) within analytic philosophy, phenomenology and the history of philosophy. The second section, ‘Time and Temporal Experience’, collects together papers on topics including the nature of time itself; of our experience of time and of historicity and temporality more broadly; approaching these issues from a variety of perspectives including historical approaches. The final section brings together papers that touch on issues within philosophy of science, logic, philosophy of language, political philosophy and more besides. (shrink)

We give a mechanism for how awareness could (indeed *must*) continue after death.

Addresses a common criticism of Williams' so-called "Necessary Boredom Thesis," arguing that the criticism misconstrues the kind of boredom that Williams is worried about. Then offers an independent reason to worry about the Necessary Boredom Thesis, given the relevant construal of boredom. Finally, develops a weaker version of Williams' worries about choosing to live an immortal existence, arguing that immortality threatens to undermine our ability to stand for the things in our lives.

In a quantum universe with a strong arrow of time, we postulate a low-entropy boundary condition to account for the temporal asymmetry. In this paper, I show that the Past Hypothesis also contains enough information to simplify the quantum ontology and define a unique initial condition in such a world. First, I introduce Density Matrix Realism, the thesis that the quantum universe is described by a fundamental density matrix that represents something objective. This stands in sharp contrast (...) to Wave Function Realism, the thesis that the quantum universe is described by a wave function that represents something objective. Second, I suggest that the Past Hypothesis is sufficient to determine a unique and simple density matrix. This is achieved by what I call the Initial Projection Hypothesis: the initial density matrix of the universe is the normalized projection onto the special low-dimensional Hilbert space. Third, because the initial quantum state is unique and simple, we have a strong case for the \emph{Nomological Thesis}: the initial quantum state of the universe is on a par with laws of nature. This new package of ideas has several interesting implications, including on the harmony between statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics, the dynamic unity of the universe and the subsystems, and the alleged conflict between Humean supervenience and quantum entanglement. (shrink)

This paper aims to reveal the point of contact between modern science and ancient Indian philosophy, namely quantum mechanics and Advaita Vedanta and Sunyavada in particular. Modern quantum research discloses the essential characteristics of quantum mechanics that disprove classical determinism and find out the relations between energy, entropy, and observations, wave-particle duality, and entanglement. These ideas have some similarity with Advaita Vedanta’s non-dualism (Maya) and Buddhism’s relational existence (Sunyavada) yet there lacks investigation of how either paradigms interface (...) to develop their conceptual epistemology and ontological nexus. This paper recognises the issue of the bridging of these two perspectives, suggests Energetic Relational Ontology as a solution, and presents a new concept, Quantum-Metaphysical Cohesion, through which energy, consciousness and reality can be seen as one. (shrink)

Future superintelligent AI will be able to reconstruct a model of the personality of a person who lived in the past based on informational traces. This could be regarded as some form of immortality if this AI also solves the problem of personal identity in a copy-friendly way. A person who is currently alive could invest now in passive self-recording and active self-description to facilitate such reconstruction. In this article, we analyze informational-theoretical relationships between the human mind, its traces, (...) and its future model; based on this analysis, we suggest the instruments to most cost-effectively collect quality data about a person for future resurrection. These guidelines form a “digital immortality protocol”. Digital immortality is plan C for achieving immortality, after plan A, life extension, and plan B, cryonics. (shrink)

This paper is about the epistemology of quantum theory. We establish a new result about a limitation to knowledge of its central object---the quantum state of the universe. We show that, if the universal quantum state can be assumed to be a typical unit vector from a high-dimensional subspace of Hilbert space (such as the subspace defined by a low-entropy macro-state as prescribed by the Past Hypothesis), then no observation can determine (or even just narrow down significantly) (...) which vector it is. Typical state vectors, in other words, are observationally indistinguishable from each other. Our argument is based on a typicality theorem from quantum statistical mechanics. We also discuss how theoretical considerations that go beyond the empirical evidence might bear on this fact and on our knowledge of the universal quantum state. (shrink)

Quantum entanglement, a phenomenon where two or more particles remain interconnected such that the state of one instantly influences the state of the other regardless of distance, challenges classical notions of locality and causality. From the perspective of the theory of the infinite quantum field, entanglement arises as a natural consequence of the harmonized auto-irritation of this field, where all particles are manifestations of an indivisible and unified reality. This theory posits that the infinite quantum field is (...) the ontological foundation of reality, homogeneous, continuous, and indivisible. All phenomena, including particles, space, and time, emerge as manifestations of this field. Localized excitations of the field, described as auto-solicitations, produce particles as dynamic expressions of the whole. When two particles are generated through auto-irritation of the same intensity, they remain harmonized due to their shared origin within the field. Their interconnectedness transcends spatial separation, as changes in one particle immediately reflect in the other, rooted in the intrinsic unity of the field. This perspective reframes entanglement as a manifestation of the universal interconnectedness of all phenomena through the infinite quantum field. It challenges classical interpretations of separability, offering a holistic framework that integrates quantum mechanics with a deeper ontological foundation. Empirical confirmations of entanglement, such as Bell's tests, support this unified view of reality, deepening our understanding of the cosmos as an integrated whole. (shrink)

I argue that a popular view about self-locating evidence implies that there are cases in which agents have surprisingly strong evidence for their own reincarnation. The central case is an ‘Immortal Beauty' scenario, modelled after the well-known Sleeping Beauty puzzle. I argue that if the popular ‘thirder’ solution to the puzzle is correct, then Immortal Beauty should be confident that she's going to be reincarnated. The essay also examines another pro-reincarnation argument due to Michael Huemer (2021). I argue that his (...) argument fails, and that my argument establishes an alternative way in which mere existence can be evidence for reincarnation. I then examine whether my result generalizes. (shrink)

The ontology behind quantum mechanics has been the subject of endless debate since the theory was formulated some 100 years ago. It has been suggested, at one time or another, that the objects described by the theory may be individual particles, waves, fields, ensembles of particles, observers, and minds, among many other possibilities. I maintain that these disagreements are due in part to a lack of precision in the use of the theory’s various semantic designators. In particular, there is (...) some confusion about the role of representation, reference, and denotation in the theory. In this article, I first analyze the role of the semantic apparatus in physical theories in general and then discuss the corresponding ontological implications for quantum mechanics. Subsequently, I consider the extension of the theory to quantum fields and then analyze the semantic changes of the designators with their ontological consequences. In addition to the classical arguments to rule out a particle ontology in the case of non-relativistic quantum field theory, I show how the existence of black holes makes the proposal of a particle ontology in general spacetimes unfeasible. I conclude by proposing a provisional pluralistic ontology of fields and spacetime and discussing some prospects for possible future ontological economies. (shrink)

We study the question of how to decompose Hilbert space into a preferred tensor-product factorization without any pre-existing structure other than a Hamiltonian operator, in particular the case of a bipartite decomposition into "system" and "environment." Such a decomposition can be defined by looking for subsystems that exhibit quasi-classical behavior. The correct decomposition is one in which pointer states of the system are relatively robust against environmental monitoring (their entanglement with the environment does not continually and dramatically increase) and remain (...) localized around approximately-classical trajectories. We present an in-principle algorithm for finding such a decomposition by minimizing a combination of entanglement growth and internal spreading of the system. Both of these properties are related to locality in different ways. This formalism could be relevant to the emergence of spacetime from quantum entanglement. (shrink)

Williams’s famous argument against immortality rests on the idea that immortality cannot be desirable, at least for human beings, and his contention has spawned a cottage industry of responses. As I will intend to show, the arguments over his view rest on both a difference of temperament and a difference in the sense of desire being used. The former concerns a difference in whether one takes a forward-looking or a backward-looking perspective on personal identity; the latter a distinction (...) between our normal desire to continue living and the kind of desire implied in desiring immortality. Showing that there is some sense of identity and desire that support Williams’s conclusion goes some way toward providing support for his argument, if not a full-fledged defense of it. (shrink)

The quantum-dynamic theory of musical forms redefines music as an ontological and noematic phenomenon, extending beyond its traditional auditory interpretation. This theory proposes that music represents the acoustic expression of thought vibrations, where each melody and harmony serves as a direct manifestation of universal noetic structures. Tonal forms are conceptualized as carriers of metaphysical and philosophical truths, bridging the gap between human discursiveness and the divine. Through specific examples, such as Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor and Beethoven's (...) Pastoral Symphony, the theory illustrates how music encapsulates theological and philosophical principles, such as the theology of creation and Schelling's philosophy of nature. The theory emphasizes music's infinite hermeneutic potential, positioning it as a medium for translating noematic content into discursive narratives. It regards composers as intermediaries who channel noetic inspiration into audible forms, rendering music a divine and ontological artifact. Drawing parallels with Hermann Hesse's The Glass Bead Game, the theory frames music as a central element of universal synthesis, capable of connecting art, science, and philosophy. Ultimately, music is viewed as an aesthetic-ontological phenomenon that transcends the category of meaning, revealing the sanctity and preciousness of existence. This theory not only deepens our understanding of music but also illuminates the fundamental essence of the universe, offering a framework for exploring the translation of noematic content into tonal forms. (shrink)

The concept of the "quantum cluster" introduces a transformative framework that reimagines the fundamental structure of reality by uniting quantum physics, ontology, and epistemology. This concept describes the quantum cluster as a dynamic form of potentiality, where particles oscillate between wave and particle modalities, existing in a superposed state symbolized as "0&1." Unlike traditional static interpretations of atomic nuclei, the quantum cluster is a harmonious structure of energetic potential, maintained by proton-neutron polarization and characterized by its (...) adaptability and coherence. It reflects a state where potentiality precedes manifestation, offering profound ontological and epistemological insights into the nature of existence. Moreover, the model posits that consciousness is immanent to the quantum field and extends to the quantum cluster, with particles engaging in noetic-noematic activities that mirror universal intelligibility. By integrating wave-particle duality, energetic coherence, and the universality of consciousness, the quantum cluster serves as a cornerstone in understanding the interconnected and dynamic nature of the universe within the framework of a quantum-idealist reality. (shrink)

The paper discusses Bernard Williams’ argument that immortality is rationally undesirable because it leads to insufferable boredom. We first spell out Williams’ argument in the form of a dilemma. We then show that the first horn of this dilemma, namely Williams’ requirement of the constancy of character of the immortal, is defensible. We next argue against a recent attempt that accepts the dilemma, but rejects the conclusion Williams draws from it. From these we conclude that blocking the second horn (...) of the dilemma is the best way to respond to Williams. Our objection contends that Williams overlooks a basic feature of human existence, namely curiosity, and that his negative evaluation of an eternal life is therefore unconvincing. (shrink)

It has long been thought that observing distinctive traces of quantum gravity in a laboratory setting is effectively impossible, since gravity is so much weaker than all the other familiar forces in particle physics. But the quantum gravity phenomenology community today seeks to do the (effectively) impossible, using a challenging novel class of `tabletop' Gravitationally Induced Entanglement (GIE) experiments, surveyed here. The hypothesized outcomes of the GIE experiments are claimed by some (but disputed by others) to provide a (...) `witness' of the underlying quantum nature of gravity in the non-relativistic limit, using superpositions of Planck-mass bodies. We inspect what sort of achievement it would possibly be to perform GIE experiments, as proposed, ultimately arguing that the positive claim of witness is equivocal. Despite various sweeping arguments to the contrary in the vicinity of quantum information theory or given low-energy quantum gravity, whether or not one can claim to witness the quantum nature of the gravitational field in these experiments decisively depends on which out of two legitimate modelling paradigms one finds oneself in. However, by situating GIE experiments in a tradition of existing experiments aimed at making gravity interestingly quantum in the laboratory, we argue that, independently of witnessing or paradigms, there are powerful reasons to perform the experiments, and that their successful undertaking would indeed be a major advance in physics. (shrink)

Quantum theory offers mathematical descriptions of measurable phenomena with great facility and accuracy, but it provides absolutely no understanding of why any particular quantum outcome is observed. It is the province of genuine explanations to tell us how things actually work—that is, why such descriptions hold and why such predictions are true. Quantum theory is long on the what, both mathematically and observationally, but almost completely silent on the how and the why. What is even more interesting (...) is that, in some sense, this state of affairs seems to be a necessary consequence of the empirical adequacy of quantum descriptions. One of the most noteworthy achievements of quantum theory is the accurate prediction of phenomena that, on pain of experimental contradiction, have no physical explanation. It is the purpose of this essay to make clear why quantum mechanics and quantum field theory are complete physical descriptions that describe the metaphysical incompleteness of the physical world, then to press the negative implications of this fact for naturalistic metaphysics. (shrink)

Statistical mechanics is often taken to be the paradigm of a successful inter-theoretic reduction, which explains the high-level phenomena (primarily those described by thermodynamics) by using the fundamental theories of physics together with some auxiliary hypotheses. In my view, the scope of statistical mechanics is wider since it is the type-identity physicalist account of all the special sciences. But in this chapter, I focus on the more traditional and less controversial domain of this theory, namely, that of explaining the thermodynamic (...) phenomena.What are the fundamental theories that are taken to explain the thermodynamic phenomena? The lively research into the foundations of classical statistical mechanics suggests that using classical mechanics to explain the thermodynamic phenomena is fruitful. Strictly speaking, in contemporary physics, classical mechanics is considered to be false. Since classical mechanics preserves certain explanatory and predictive aspects of the true fundamental theories, it can be successfully applied in certain cases. In other circumstances, classical mechanics has to be replaced by quantum mechanics. In this chapter I ask the following two questions: I) How does quantum statistical mechanics differ from classical statistical mechanics? How are the well-known differences between the two fundamental theories reflected in the statistical mechanical account of high-level phenomena? II) How does quantum statistical mechanics differ from quantum mechanics simpliciter? To make our main points I need to only consider non-relativistic quantum mechanics. Most of the ideas described and addressed in this chapter hold irrespective of the choice of a (so-called) interpretation of quantum mechanics, and so I will mention interpretations only when the differences between them are important to the matter discussed. (shrink)

Abstract: -/- The Immortality and the Fear of Losing Loved Ones argument addresses a common objection to the pursuit of immortality: the concern of outliving loved ones and the emotional toll it may carry. By drawing parallels to human relationships with pets—relationships often characterized by profound emotional bonds despite the knowledge of their temporary nature—this argument suggests that the fear of outliving others need not deter the desire for immortality. -/- The argument posits that humans regularly form (...) meaningful, fulfilling relationships even when aware of their temporary nature, as with pets whose shorter lifespans are universally accepted. It concludes that individuals can continue to find meaning and fulfillment in relationships, even if they eventually outlive others, and that the transient nature of relationships should not prevent one from pursuing eternal life. This perspective offers a nuanced view on immortality, suggesting that the potential for new connections and experiences can provide ongoing value, despite the inevitable loss of loved ones. (shrink)

A growing literature is premised on the claim that quantum mechanics provides evidence for metaphysical indeterminacy. But does it? None of the currently fashionable realist interpretations involve fundamental indeterminacy and the ‘standard interpretation’, to the extent that it can be made out, doesn't require indeterminacy either.

THE IMMORTAL FLY: ETERNAL WHISPERS. WHO IS SHE? Author: Rituparna Ray Chaudhuri. Hello, Recently my book named, ‘The Immortal Fly: Eternal Whispers : Based On True Events of a Family' been published from Partridge (USA) In Association with Penguin Random House (UK) and achieved a separate Google identity. -/- As being # the author of the book, I thought to define self in the book what is definition of 'Depression'. I wanted to explain self in many ways, but the best (...) quotation appeared to me : “My life will end someday, but it will end at my convenience.’’ -/- ***** I am missing "her". By now, years passed without 'her' . Even though, unlike before, everything is becoming to be more scattered, gloomy and desolate. She is no-where whom I share my feelings. Even now, when I do close my eyes, I can visualize the same that I had left years since on 7th February, 2019 at 8.20 A.M. in the hospital struggling a continuous period of fifty days : on the fifty one day, my father said, ”The End of our Fifty Years relationship has been completed with the Fifty Days”….’Whoever’ she was to others , but she is our legend…To me, she is ‘My Ma’. -/- The story could begin, 'I failed preciously on success of my life.' Simplicity, Innocence, Belief, Faith and Personality met unknowingly with filthy waves skillfully immersed in Betray, Sorcery, Jealousy, Greediness, Revenge, Lie... ‘’ ******* The Daughter writes, “I had asked Ma many times, but her ‘impenetrable personality’ and dynamic words to everyone with a tinge of smile as reflected on her face, she was reluctant to continue her conversation with me. I had thought, hence, I must not be indefinite on my spoken words. Who shall I blame!” Based on true story of a family came from South Calcutta (India) to a suburb, on staying at home of the Daughter’s maternal grandmother’s house, this book reveals in facts and true events how Destiny had unknowingly ‘further’ played an abominable role to Fate of The Daughter, when eventually one day on 7th February, 2019 everything was finished within 8.20A.M. The Daughter is, therefore, left alone on terrestrial with immortal words as written in her Diary, ‘Eternal Whispers’: “My words to self that I am to fulfill my Ma’s - wish. ’’ ‘’ -/- • Keywords: 1. Diary and True Events 2. The Chaotic Society 3. Fatality 4. Of A-Family 5. Science , Philosophy and Literature 6. Severe Depression 7. Medical Journey. -/- The Alternative Title of the Book: The Greatest Mistake or Fortune:: The book is mainly carrying with intense words of a journey of the relationship between a Mother with her Daughter has left readers in an abrupt situation where ,perhaps, I can define "Man is the innocent creature with 'his' personality under circumstances..." -/- . (shrink)

I conjecture that the probability amplitudes of a quantum state are fractions of the Planck frequency, stemming from the rich dynamics at the Planck scale. This offers a means to indirectly measure the fundamental properties of quantum spacetime and potentially resolves the measurement problem.

We discuss the no-go theorem of Frauchiger and Renner based on an "extended Wigner's friend" thought experiment which is supposed to show that any single-world interpretation of quantum mechanics leads to inconsistent predictions if it is applicable on all scales. We show that no such inconsistency occurs if one considers a complete description of the physical situation. We then discuss implications of the thought experiment that have not been clearly addressed in the original paper, including a tension between relativity (...) and nonlocal effects predicted by quantum mechanics. Our discussion applies in particular to Bohmian mechanics. (shrink)

While most people believe the best possible life they could lead would be an immortal one, so‐called “immortality curmudgeons” disagree. Following Bernard Williams, they argue that, at best, we have no prudential reason to live an immortal life, and at worst, an immortal life would necessarily be bad for creatures like us. In this article, we examine Bernard Williams' seminal argument against the desirability of immortality and the subsequent literature it spawned. We first reconstruct and motivate Williams' somewhat (...) cryptic argument in three parts. After that, we elucidate and motivate the three best (and most influential) counterarguments to Williams' seminal argument. Finally, we review, and critically examine, two further distinct arguments in favor of the anti‐immortality position. (shrink)

This paper deals with the deuteros plous, literally ‘the second voyage’, proverbially ‘the next best way’, discussed in Plato’s Phaedo, the key passage being Phd. 99e4-100a3. I argue that (a) the ‘flight into the logoi’ can have two different interpretations, a standard one and a non-standard one. The issue is whether at 99e-100a Socrates means that both the student of erga and the student of logoi consider images (‘the standard interpretation’), or the student of logoi does not consider images but (...) that “consistency should suffice for truth” (‘the non-standard interpretation’); (b) the non-standard one implies the problem of the hypothesis, a problem analogous to the problem of the elenchus; (c) there is a structural analogy between Descartes’ ontological argument for the existence of God in his 5th Meditation and the final proof for the immortality of the soul in the Phaedo. (shrink)