Cosmological immortality: how to eliminate aging on a universal scale.
The death of our universe is as certain as our individual death. Some cosmologists have elaborated models which would make the cosmos immortal. In this paper, I examine them as cosmological extrapolations of immortality narratives that civilizations have developed to face death anxiety. I first show why cosmological death should be a worry, then I briefly examine scenarios involving the notion of soul or resurrection on a cosmological scale. I discuss in how far an intelligent civilization could stay alive by engaging in stellar, galactic and universal rejuvenation. Finally, I argue that leaving a cosmological legacy via universe making is an inspiring and promising narrative to achieve cosmological immortality.
Center Leo Apostel, Global Brain Institute, Evolution, Complexity and Cognition group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels), Krijgskundestraat 33, 1160 Brussels, Belgium. clement.vidal@philosophons.com.
Clement
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Vidal
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D055580:Astronomical Phenomena; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002423:Cause of Death; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D012072:Religious Philosophies; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013997:Time Factors