Perpetual existence

[Lozzer]

Suppose that when we die, we simply assume a new consciousness, without any awareness of it. We could 'assume' a new sentience, whether in the distant future, or exactly after demise. This sounds like mumbo-jumbo, but that's because it is, but could it happen? I'm not talking about a 'soul' or 'transition', but being another conscious individual while having no relation or association with a 'past-life'. I'm alive at the moment, but I wont be in the future. I will never exist again, never. I'm a single non-duplicable cosmological event. I have trouble fathoming that, and I'm not sure if it's just human incredulity, but thinking about 'persisting' to some degree in the future; not atomically, but sentiently.

[Rum]

There's no evidence for anything happening when you die other than your brain (thoughts feeling etc included) stopping working along with your body your body slowly rotting.

[PsychoSerenity]

That reminds me, I keep meaning to read the "Do 'I' actually exist?" thread.

[Rum]

That reminds me, I keep meaning to read the "Do 'I' actually exist?" thread.

You should. It offers at least some consolation.. :sighsm:

[Coito ergo sum]

Suppose that when we die, we simply return to an old consciousness, with full awareness of it. We could revert to the old sentience, whether in the distant past, or exactly after demise. This sounds like mumbo-jumbo, but that's because it is, but could it happen? I'm not talking about a 'soul' or 'transition', but being a previous conscious individual while having no relation or association with a 'current or future life'. I'm alive at the moment, but I wont be in the future. I will never exist again, never. I'm a single non-duplicable cosmological event. I have trouble fathoming that, and I'm not sure if it's just human incredulity, but thinking about 'persisting' to some degree in the future; not atomically, but sentiently.

Or,

Suppose when we die, we complexly adopt a new visage, without any awareness of anything but ice cream cones and nipples, whether in the distant future, or sideways in time. This sounds like mumbo-jumbo, but that's because it is....

[Robert_S]

Suppose that when we die, we simply assume a new consciousness, without any awareness of it. We could 'assume' a new sentience, whether in the distant future, or exactly after demise. This sounds like mumbo-jumbo, but that's because it is, but could it happen? I'm not talking about a 'soul' or 'transition', but being another conscious individual while having no relation or association with a 'past-life'. I'm alive at the moment, but I wont be in the future. I will never exist again, never. I'm a single non-duplicable cosmological event. I have trouble fathoming that, and I'm not sure if it's just human incredulity, but thinking about 'persisting' to some degree in the future; not atomically, but sentiently.

What is it, precisely, that the old sentience and the new would have in common?

[mistermack]

Suppose that when we die, we simply assume a new consciousness, without any awareness of it. We could 'assume' a new sentience, whether in the distant future, or exactly after demise. This sounds like mumbo-jumbo, but that's because it is, but could it happen? I'm not talking about a 'soul' or 'transition', but being another conscious individual while having no relation or association with a 'past-life'. I'm alive at the moment, but I wont be in the future. I will never exist again, never. I'm a single non-duplicable cosmological event. I have trouble fathoming that, and I'm not sure if it's just human incredulity, but thinking about 'persisting' to some degree in the future; not atomically, but sentiently.

By the way, barman, can I have the same again?

Sorry sir, I'm afraid you've had too much already!!!

[Pappa]

Suppose that when we die, we simply assume a new consciousness, without any awareness of it. We could 'assume' a new sentience, whether in the distant future, or exactly after demise. This sounds like mumbo-jumbo, but that's because it is, but could it happen? I'm not talking about a 'soul' or 'transition', but being another conscious individual while having no relation or association with a 'past-life'. I'm alive at the moment, but I wont be in the future. I will never exist again, never. I'm a single non-duplicable cosmological event. I have trouble fathoming that, and I'm not sure if it's just human incredulity, but thinking about 'persisting' to some degree in the future; not atomically, but sentiently.

I think Lozzer did try some acid after all.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

A dead person can be no more sentient than a brick.

[Toontown]

Suppose that when we die, we simply assume a new consciousness, without any awareness of it. We could 'assume' a new sentience, whether in the distant future, or exactly after demise.

Essentially, that's already happened. Your current sentience asserted itself shortly after your baby self was born. You just happen to "be" a particular pile of organized atoms, for the moment. There is no reason why that particular pile of atoms is "you". It just is. Totally acausally.

I'm alive at the moment, but I wont be in the future. I will never exist again, never. I'm a single non-duplicable cosmological event. I have trouble fathoming that, and I'm not sure if it's just human incredulity, but thinking about 'persisting' to some degree in the future; not atomically, but sentiently.

That particular pile of organized atoms will never be experienced again after it is disassembled. On the other hand, there is no such thing as non-experience. You do da math.

What is it, precisely, that the old sentience and the new would have in common?

What is it, precisely, that your presumed pre-birth non-sentience had in common with your current sentience?

A dead person can be no more sentient than a brick.

I didn't get the impression Devogay was thinking about continuing to experience the "dead" pile of atoms, but another subjective sentience altogether. Obviously there is no such thing as a "dead person", by definition. The term "dead person" is an oxymoron.

Your current pile of atoms were no more sentient than a brick either, until they became organized in a particular way. Then they mysteriously became "you", for no reason whatsoever.

[JimC]

We have a deep-seated vision of ourselves as entities within a stretch of time. We plan for, and assume the existence of, the immediate future because that degree of forward planning is adaptive, and fits within our pragmatically derived consciousness.

The concept of this ending does not sit well with our hominid selves.

As a consequence, we have explored flights of fancy involving some form of continuation beyond death, both philosophical and religious for many millenia, all of which are dreams, none of them are worth tuppence...

Still a bitch, though...

[Thinking Aloud]

The OP scenario could only "work" if there was a consistent, fixed number of conscious entities on the planet, or in the universe, depending on your woo-level. Otherwise where did the extra 4 billion human consciousnesses come from in the last 50 years?

If your current consciousness went on to another conscious being after you died, but without any knowledge or recollection of this existence, what's the point? It might as well be two separate consciousnesses, and since there's no evidence to suggest otherwise, we might as well go with the simpler explanation.

[Hermit]

Suppose that when we die, we simply assume a new consciousness...

What makes you assume that we may be more privileged on a biological level than, say, a chimpanzee, and where and how would our consciousness be transposed if we assumed such privilege? Mumbo jumbo alright.

[klr]

...

I'm alive at the moment, but I wont be in the future. I will never exist again, never. I'm a single non-duplicable cosmological event. I have trouble fathoming that, and I'm not sure if it's just human incredulity, but thinking about 'persisting' to some degree in the future; not atomically, but sentiently.

... and that's one of the reasons religion has been so successful. It appeals to wishful thinking. That doesn't mean that there is anything at all to the notion though. Unless someone has dug up some amazing new evidence in the last 30 minutes ...

[Animavore]

I'm a single non-duplicable cosmological event.

You're a slight variation and continuation of a perfectly duplicable cosmological event which is happening every second.