42 redux
November 16, 2015 5:48 PM Subscribe
What are some alternate ideas about the ultimate reality of life and death? Everyone knows the standard metaphysics of the major religions: Heaven, hell, karma/reincarnation and so on. But what are some alternate ideas about life and death's true reality?
For example, there's the brain-in-a-vat theory. There's also Nietszche's "Eternal Recurrence" model, where you are born, you die, and then get reborn again, but live *exactly the same life you did before*. There is solipsism, with the universe destroyed when you die.
Also, is there a generic name for these types of theories? Metaphysics seems like too broad a term.
For example, there's the brain-in-a-vat theory. There's also Nietszche's "Eternal Recurrence" model, where you are born, you die, and then get reborn again, but live *exactly the same life you did before*. There is solipsism, with the universe destroyed when you die.
Also, is there a generic name for these types of theories? Metaphysics seems like too broad a term.
Is "cosmology" the word you seek?
posted by contraption at 5:59 PM on November 16, 2015
posted by contraption at 5:59 PM on November 16, 2015
Response by poster: No that seems too broad to me. Specifically, metaphysical theories on human life/consciousness and death. Looking for a word that's tighter, e.g. in the same way that "eschatology" describes theories of the end of the world.
posted by storybored at 6:08 PM on November 16, 2015
posted by storybored at 6:08 PM on November 16, 2015
Phenomenology sort of gets at what you're saying, though it's more about consciousness than life and death per se.
posted by Wretch729 at 6:16 PM on November 16, 2015
posted by Wretch729 at 6:16 PM on November 16, 2015
I mean, this one's pretty standard, so I'm not sure if you meant to include it above - but there's certainly the idea that you just die and stop existing and the world keeps going the same. I guess the philosophical term is materialism?
posted by goodnight to the rock n roll era at 6:39 PM on November 16, 2015
posted by goodnight to the rock n roll era at 6:39 PM on November 16, 2015
Best answer: Not sure what the term would be, but as far as other approaches go, you might enjoy the book Sum - it does a fun (fictional) job of exploring alternate afterlifes.
posted by Mchelly at 8:00 PM on November 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 8:00 PM on November 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
http://www.galactanet.com/oneoff/theegg_mod.html where you are everybody, all at once
And a theory that the universe can't exist without you, so every time you might die, you either slip into a new universe where you didn't, or a new one is spontaneously created for you to continue living in.
And another where we are all fragments of God, and our experiences in life shape God.
Oh, and of course odds are we are just a computer simulation, probably running in nested computer simulations.
posted by Jacen at 8:56 PM on November 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
And a theory that the universe can't exist without you, so every time you might die, you either slip into a new universe where you didn't, or a new one is spontaneously created for you to continue living in.
And another where we are all fragments of God, and our experiences in life shape God.
Oh, and of course odds are we are just a computer simulation, probably running in nested computer simulations.
posted by Jacen at 8:56 PM on November 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
And a theory that the universe can't exist without you, so every time you might die, you either slip into a new universe where you didn't, or a new one is spontaneously created for you to continue living in.
That's quantum immortality, I believe.
If the universe is constantly splitting into alternate universes, then we will always be conscious/alive in universes in which we are conscious/alive.
A tautology for sure. But it means, we are each individually going to be immortal while we watch everyone else die: A friend of yours is shot by a gun. You stay in the universe in which you watch them die (because it is most probable). They have forked off into a universe in which they are alive (because it is the only one they can fork off into)
posted by vacapinta at 5:04 AM on November 17, 2015
That's quantum immortality, I believe.
If the universe is constantly splitting into alternate universes, then we will always be conscious/alive in universes in which we are conscious/alive.
A tautology for sure. But it means, we are each individually going to be immortal while we watch everyone else die: A friend of yours is shot by a gun. You stay in the universe in which you watch them die (because it is most probable). They have forked off into a universe in which they are alive (because it is the only one they can fork off into)
posted by vacapinta at 5:04 AM on November 17, 2015
You might also try Max Tegmark's book about the ultimate nature of reality. The first part is solid cosmology. The second part extrapolates from current theories to get at what reality really IS.
posted by vacapinta at 5:16 AM on November 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by vacapinta at 5:16 AM on November 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
you seem to have dismissed metaphysical teachings?[i think you might want to ask 'what am i] ,the rest is the mechanics . Science can explain whats happening/happened to some extent but it can't explain the impulse,neither can metaphysics,so you just have to keep searching untill something feels right to you. personally i like the teachings of A.C.I.M . 'nothing real can be threatened, nothing unreal exists,herein lies the peace of God'
posted by shineon at 1:27 PM on December 10, 2015
posted by shineon at 1:27 PM on December 10, 2015
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posted by ActionPopulated at 5:54 PM on November 16, 2015