Volpone
Zombie Hunter
...a somewhat TNG episode scenario.
If you don't follow the happenings of my life, the dog I've had for almost 10 years died a little over a month ago and I took it pretty hard. Without going too much into my pseudoscience philosophy, I don't think dogs have an afterlife; once they die, that's it. The pattern is lost. I do believe human consciousness can continue to exist after death. And I think this is because a dog's brain isn't complex enough to create a pattern that can survive after the brain dies. But I think my brain is complex enough to create something that will continue on after I die. So I've wondered if my brain was complex enough to bring her along; to carry her soul along with mine. Probably not, because all I've got is my external perceptions of her. I do not have her smell and hearing experiences or the intensity of hunting a squirrel or groundhog. But I try nonetheless.
Today, while I was walking, I could almost see her and feel her next to me. But only enough to make me really sad. But I got to thinking: what if I were successful--in a way? Suppose I was able to make my brain see my dog and believe she was still alive? Not enough that she'd really and truly be recreated in physical form--not even to a degree that other people could see her--but what if I managed to make myself believe she was there? Obviously there are challenges. My brain would have to come up with a reason my dog never eats any food, but brains are pretty good at rationalizing irrational things. Would I make that trade? Would I see things that weren't really there in exchange for having my dog back? I really don't know. How about you? Would you be willing to get back something you lost if it meant going a little crazy?
On an unrelated note, I'm 87% sure I'd trade 7 years of my life for 1 more year with my dog. But no sneaky monkey paw stuff of my dog being horribly disabled or that I'm supposed to die in 7 years so my dog comes back just as I die and now she has to live her last year without me. Brandy is nice. I prefer bourbon, but sometimes you gotta make do.
If you don't follow the happenings of my life, the dog I've had for almost 10 years died a little over a month ago and I took it pretty hard. Without going too much into my pseudoscience philosophy, I don't think dogs have an afterlife; once they die, that's it. The pattern is lost. I do believe human consciousness can continue to exist after death. And I think this is because a dog's brain isn't complex enough to create a pattern that can survive after the brain dies. But I think my brain is complex enough to create something that will continue on after I die. So I've wondered if my brain was complex enough to bring her along; to carry her soul along with mine. Probably not, because all I've got is my external perceptions of her. I do not have her smell and hearing experiences or the intensity of hunting a squirrel or groundhog. But I try nonetheless.
Today, while I was walking, I could almost see her and feel her next to me. But only enough to make me really sad. But I got to thinking: what if I were successful--in a way? Suppose I was able to make my brain see my dog and believe she was still alive? Not enough that she'd really and truly be recreated in physical form--not even to a degree that other people could see her--but what if I managed to make myself believe she was there? Obviously there are challenges. My brain would have to come up with a reason my dog never eats any food, but brains are pretty good at rationalizing irrational things. Would I make that trade? Would I see things that weren't really there in exchange for having my dog back? I really don't know. How about you? Would you be willing to get back something you lost if it meant going a little crazy?
On an unrelated note, I'm 87% sure I'd trade 7 years of my life for 1 more year with my dog. But no sneaky monkey paw stuff of my dog being horribly disabled or that I'm supposed to die in 7 years so my dog comes back just as I die and now she has to live her last year without me. Brandy is nice. I prefer bourbon, but sometimes you gotta make do.
