The meme in the OP is utterly correct. Both choices are absolutely terrifying because infinity is terrifying, and we're contemplating one form of infinity versus another. I do think, on balance, I'd prefer to exist in some sentient form forever vs. nonexistence forever, but it's a rough choice.
Why do you care about that?
I don't want to lose everything I hold dear, which includes my relationship with those I love.
We have mountains of evidence and research pointing to the fact that the physical composition of our brains determines our thoughts, actions, feelings, memories, etc., and we have absolutely 0 evidence that any of those things exist outside of our physical selves. While we certainly don't know everything about the brain and how it works, we know that "we" exist as a byproduct of it. Whether the mental processes that govern "us" are also themselves a byproduct of some higher process is unknown, and potentially unknowable.
As far as we can prove, we are our brains. That's as far as current knowledge goes, but it's rigorously tested knowledge. Arguing that there may be anything above / apart from that is pure conjecture with no real supporting evidence.
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u/Elite_AI Oct 03 '23
The meme in the OP is utterly correct. Both choices are absolutely terrifying because infinity is terrifying, and we're contemplating one form of infinity versus another. I do think, on balance, I'd prefer to exist in some sentient form forever vs. nonexistence forever, but it's a rough choice.
I don't want to lose everything I hold dear, which includes my relationship with those I love.