The fact that i will have no memories of this life experience after my inevitable death makes this whole experience completely pointless

[iwanttodie019]

THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS YOUR present "stream of consciousness" and NOTHING ELSE MATTERS

and since after death your "stream of consciousness" will be no consciousness

so,life is like watching a movie and thEn completely forgetting all about it

(mind you,it is not the same as watching a movie because after having watched a movie,you will have memories of having watching the movie
but instead life is like watching a movie and COMPLETELY FORGETTING ALL ABOUT IT)

 

[copioushopelessness]

It's depressing but also relieving to know I'll be released from my memories. My memories torture me, it used to be the traumatic ones that hurt, but now it's the good memories that kill me the most. Knowing they are behind me when I wanted to make more. So much damage has been done. I'd like to forget.

It's depressing but also relieving to know I'll be released from my memories. My memories torture me, it used to be the traumatic ones that hurt, but now it's the good memories that kill me the most. Knowing they are behind me when I wanted to make more. So much damage has been done. I'd like to forget.

Also losing my cognition knowing that I might even forget before I pass.

 

[Forever Sleep]

We're not just watching a movie though- we're experiencing it. So- even if it ends- it kind of matters whether we find ourselves in a rom com or slasher film. I suspect the latter- we'd prefer to be over as soon as possible- with no memory remaining.

Imagine if consciousness did go on forever though. Would we have a physical body all that time? How would we get to express ourselves without one? I actually think eternal consciousness- with a perception of time could be a living hell! What could remain interesting for all eternity? I'm actually pretty grateful we are mortal and hopefully, there will be an end to all this. Although, it's sad to lose other people along the way.

 

[iwanttodie019]

It's depressing but also relieving to know I'll be released from my memories. My memories torture me, it used to be the traumatic ones that hurt, but now it's the good memories that kill me the most. Knowing they are behind me when I wanted to make more. So much damage has been done. I'd like to forget.

We're not just watching a movie though- we're experiencing it. So- even if it ends- it kind of matters whether we find ourselves in a rom com or slasher film. I suspect the latter- we'd prefer to be over as soon as possible- with no memory remaining.

Imagine if consciousness did go on forever though. Would we have a physical body all that time? How would we get to express ourselves without one? I actually think eternal consciousness- with a perception of time could be a living hell! What could remain interesting for all eternity? I'm actually pretty grateful we are mortal and hopefully, there will be an end to all this. Although, it's sad to lose other people along the way.

yes,people say the counterargument to this is that

why watch a movie if it ends?
Why eat when it is going to come out of your system?

I say,that is not a correct analogy,since afteer watching a movie i will have memories of the movie and can reminisce about having watched the movie.
Similarly eating is a necessary biological function

So,those analogies are not correct

 

[Forever Sleep]

yes,people say the counterargument to this is that

why watch a movie if it ends?
Why eat when it is going to come out of your system?

I say,that is not a correct analogy,since afteer watching a movie i will have memories of the movie and can reminisce about having watched the movie.
Similarly eating is a necessary biological function

So,those analogies are not correct

There's still preference involved though- surely? Are you happy to watch any kind of movie- even though it ends? Surely, there are some genres you would stay away from? Similarly, many people would hate to have to remember their lives after death.

Is that the argument though at it's core? Life ends so- it doesn't matter what you do during it? But then- surely it does matter- at the time?

If you were starving- would you really deny food because- what's the point? The point is to relieve suffering in the moment. I imagine that's what drives many of us moment to moment. We drink to avoid thirst, eat to avoid hunger, shit to avoid becoming ill. We watch entertainment to stimulate us in the moment. We probably wouldn't enjoy any of those things if they went on forever.

I suppose though, I don't always long for 'forever'. So, it doesn't necessarily taint an experience for me to know it won't last or, even that I'll forget it one day. If anything- it's a benefit. It means I can enjoy it again in the future.

Once I'm dead though, (hopefully,) there will be nothing. No memory but, no remorse either. No capability to have an extistential crises. To worry about ethereal or practical things.

Do you think you'd feel happier if you were immortal or, if you knew your consciousness was?

 

[iwanttodie019]

There's still preference involved though- surely? Are you happy to watch any kind of movie- even though it ends? Surely, there are some genres you would stay away from? Similarly, many people would hate to have to remember their lives after death.

Is that the argument though at it's core? Life ends so- it doesn't matter what you do during it? But then- surely it does matter- at the time?

If you were starving- would you really deny food because- what's the point? The point is to relieve suffering in the moment. I imagine that's what drives many of us moment to moment. We drink to avoid thirst, eat to avoid hunger, shit to avoid becoming ill. We watch entertainment to stimulate us in the moment. We probably wouldn't enjoy any of those things if they went on forever.

I suppose though, I've never really longed for 'forever'. So, it doesn't necessarily taint an experience for me to know it won't last or, even that I'll forget it one day. If anything- it's a benefit. It means I can enjoy it again in the future.

Once I'm dead though, (hopefully,) there will be nothing. No memory but, no remorse either. No capability to have an extistential crises. To worry about ethereal or practical things.

Do you think you'd feel happier if you were immortal or, if you knew your consciousness was?

read this



and



So,yes life in heaven would also be pointless if it were finite.

 

[astroproto]

yes,people say the counterargument to this is that

why watch a movie if it ends?
Why eat when it is going to come out of your system?

I say,that is not a correct analogy,since afteer watching a movie i will have memories of the movie and can reminisce about having watched the movie.
Similarly eating is a necessary biological function

So,those analogies are not correct

Your counterargument seems to be that the value of experiencing something lies in the ability to reminisce that experience, more so than the experience itself. The point of the analogy is that the present experience is what matters. I'd say that the reminiscing only has value because you were able to experience the thing in the first place.

 

[iwanttodie019]

Your counterargument seems to be that the value of experiencing something lies in the ability to reminisce that experience, more so than the experience itself. The point of the analogy is that the present experience is what matters. I'd say that the reminiscing only has value because you were able to experience the thing in the first place.

let's say someone was born in the year 0AD and died in the year 2000AD.
and his whole life was joy and happiness and he fulfilled all his desires during his life

Does it really matter now that he lived for 2000 years in heaven?

The journey is irrelevant if the destination is void

 

[Forever Sleep]

read this



and



So,yes life in heaven would also be pointless if it were finite.

As an example though. A painting by Van Gogh is worth millions now. During his lifetime, he never saw much success. I think they predict he sold something like 1-3 pieces.

Ok- if he was immortal, I suppose he could have seen his rise to fame although- perhaps that's debatable. Is he so famous now because of his tragic story in part? We love a tortured artist... Would he be so famous without that story?

But- even if he can witness his fame from heaven- wouldn't it have been nicer for him to be appreciated at the time?

What if he'd lived an eternity without ever being appreciated? What if it was in fact other people that made him so famous? The seemingly shady Dr. Gatchet for one.

Why would living for eternity necessarily mean you end up happy? What if it's just one failure after the next?

There'd be a whole lot more competition for one. Would many artists get a look in if the great masters were still alive? We'd all have more competition for partners if age was no longer a concern. I don't think a very long life would end up benefitting everyone. Who's gonna pay for it too? Do the youth of today really want to be paying taxes to fund the pensions of hedonistic 300 year olds?

 

[iwanttodie019]

As an example though. A painting by Van Gogh is worth millions now. During his lifetime, he never saw much success. I think they predict he sold something like 1-3 pieces.

Ok- if he was immortal, I suppose he could have seen his rise to fame although- perhaps that's debatable. Is he so famous now because of his tragic story in part? We love a tortured artist... Would he be so famous without that story?

But- even if he can witness his fame from heaven- wouldn't it have been nicer for him to be appreciated at the time?

What if he'd lived an eternity without ever being appreciated? What if it was in fact other people that made him so famous? The seemingly shady Dr. Gatchet for one.

Why would living for eternity necessarily mean you end up happy? What if it's just one failure after the next?

Well ,Van Gough is not there to enjoy his fame,from his perspective it is like he was never born

 

[Forever Sleep]

Well ,Van Gough is not there to enjoy his fame,from his perspective it is like he was never born

True- hopefully, he is no longer suffering. Don't you think he would have enjoyed some recognition during his life though? He obviously hoped he would get it eventually otherwise- why did he keep painting? Do you think he should have quit? What would he have done instead? Do you think he would have enjoyed it as much?

Consider everything you use today. Whatever you are using to connect to this site. All the media you may consume today. Books, music, architecture- whatever. Imagine how your life would be if none if those things existed because- whoever was initially going to do them thought- what's the point?

Would your life be better or worse for other people not bothering to create or, do their job? Again, in the grand scheme of things- it won't matter. They'll die, you'll die. The universe won't care whether we enjoyed a piece of music on a Thursday afternoon. But surely- lived experience in the present counts for something? That's why we make an effort I suppose. To try and make our current situation that little bit less shit!

 

[iwanttodie019]

True- hopefully, he is no longer suffering. Don't you think he would have enjoyed some recognition during his life though? He obviously hoped he would get it eventually otherwise- why did he keep painting? Do you think he should have quit? What would he have done instead? Do you think he would have enjoyed it as much?

Consider everything you use today. Whatever you are using to connect to this site. All the media you may consume today. Books, music, architecture- whatever. Imagine how your life would be if none if those things existed because- whoever was initially going to do them thought- what's the point?

Would your life be better or worse for other people not bothering to create or, do their job? Again, in the grand scheme of things- it won't matter. They'll die, you'll die. The universe won't care whether we enjoyed a piece of music on a Thursday afternoon. But surely- lived experience in the present counts for something? That's why we make an effort I suppose. To try and make our current situation that little bit less shit!

"But surely- lived experience in the present counts for something?"

Disagree.I
If you will remember none of it,then "lived experience in the present counts for nothing"

"To try and make our current situation that little bit less shit!"

The reason we try to make our current situation better is becasue pleasure feels better than pain while we are alive

 

[Forever Sleep]

The reason we try to make our current situation better is becasue pleasure feels better than pain while we are alive

That's the reason most people do stuff I would say. But sure- if a person simply can't enjoy anything at all- knowing it will end- then, there's not much to counter argue against that. Just that it's an individual perspective- not everyone feels like that.

 

[iwanttodie019]

That's the reason most people do stuff I would say. But sure- if a person simply can't enjoy anything at all- knowing it will end- then, there's not much to counter argue against that. Just that it's an individual perspective- not everyone feels like that.

you can enjoy,you can live in bliss all your life but still it would be pointless to live such a life because you will remember none of it after your death.

Read the question

 

[Whale_bones]

On the one hand, I get what you're saying about death making everything else irrelevant, since death lasts for forever while a human lifespan is (at most) 100 years. But we can't actually understand how long infinity is, so people still value their time being alive.

If you think of the time it takes for a human to blink once, and say that someone should value that moment and not overlook it as irrelevant, most people would think "well, it's such a small amount of time that it doesn't matter, when compared to the rest of my life". And one human lifespan is much less than a blink when compared to infinity.

So from that point of view, I'd say yes, life is irrelevant. But on the other hand, like your initial post says, "the only thing that matters is your present stream of consciousness". So while we're conscious, it matters to us. Once we're dead, it won't matter, and it'll be that way for the rest of time.

 

[BoulderSoWhat]

If I snapped my fingers and suddenly I became immortal. Okay, cool, I'm having this experience now chatting in this forum. Now, let's pretend that some catastrophic fate, end, or "change" to the universe doesn't occur and I'm not completely obliterated by processes outside of my control, or changed into some form of matter, energy, or whatnot that is completely unhuman or unlike what I am now. Let's say some time passes from this moment and I am precisely 18,562,335,335,472,920,608,480,024,252,466 years in the future from now. So much time inconceivable has passed, that I probably wouldn't be able to remember or recall this moment if I wanted to. This moment is meaningful now, if only in the sense that I am taking part in some kind of connection to others. I am expressing my thoughts, thinking through my thoughts, possibly even working on self growth and betterment just by my engagement here.

But...reality isn't so kind to guarantee any kind of "linear progression" or definite better future or state of being for me because of whatever decisions I do or don't make in whatever present moment. Any positive change can be unexpectedly undone. So if infinite existence was suddenly a thing, any present moment is still inevitably doomed to insignificance just by the magnitudes of time passing, eventually.

But that would be okay with me. Because right now, I'm not 18,562,335,335,472,920,608,480,024,252,466 years in the future from now. I'm here right now, that's what matters. And in an instant the present has already passed and a new instance is the present, and that is what matters. Holding onto the moments that have significance for as long as it remains relevant, and letting go of those moments that no longer occupy identity forming significance, that's the human experience and predicament we are in.

To be paralyzed by pointlessness or throw both middle fingers up to pointlessness, that's for each person to figure out what to do about.

 

[Pluto]