Thoughts On Immortality

Most people seem to be obsessed with the idea of seeing their own ego live beyond the grave when they die (even the image of their bodies). Perhaps in part because of the survival instinct, and in part because of religion we are raised to expect such things out of life. Most men die simply because it is inevitable. That is to say, they don't realize when there time has passed, and all they do is cling to the threads of their life greedily, as if their own experiences were special. What I am specifically referring to in this case would be those that use machines and every other medical technology to try and squeeze a few more months out of life, even though they are not 'living it'.

I believe it is foolish to cling sentimentally at our own flesh, when there are so many others that carry our same thought patterns, and experiences of the like. Even the ego in the body is always changing. As human beings we have imperfect awareness, and therefore we are always learning. As we learn and think, so do our views change. I may not be the same person per se 5 years from now, even though I have the same body. Writers and thinkers spend years working and reworking ideas into masterpieces, they are remembered for their work. I can't help but think of all the lost works of literature from the Greeks. We could say that as long as human beings live, then immortality is possible.

From one human to another, the exact human experiences differ, even the intelligence and bodies themselves that we experience life with evolve over time. With each new being, we a new memory, the ability to experience things for the first time again. We will never wake up some day and say "I have done all there is to do, and there is nothing left to do." We aren't made to have the time for it.

Though other animals can 'feel' and such, and humans have many parallels with different animals, I don't know if we live on completely through just any type of animal. Perhaps as long as an animal is capable of some form of consciousness, then we will still live on through our thoughts. I would say what we would need in order to live on after death would be for something to think like us.

Now, having come this far, we must realize that the survival of the human race, and doing things for the greater good benefits us in a way. It ensures that we will live a pleasant life in our next host, that we will have a fair shot to make a difference, etcetera. Utilitarianism becomes highly important.