Re: >Boredom of Immortality (was Re: imaging the world)

From: Zero Powers (zero_powers@hotmail.com)
Date: Mon Mar 06 2000 - 12:18:50 MST


>From: Spudboy100@aol.com
Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 08:04:54 EST
>
>In a message dated 03/06/2000 3:47:43 AM Eastern Standard Time,
>swayzej@earthlink.net writes:
>
> > Would we be satisfied if we were immortal and had nothing to do but tend
> > gardens
> > for eternity? (substitute your idea of a techless existence) Not I!
>This
>was
> > always my problem with the religious paradigm of my folks. Eternity
>tending
> > gardens on bended knee worshipping there deity, no worries, no woes,
>need
> > something just wish it into existence! I want problems to solve! If
>eternity
> > were too easy I would be bored to insanity! I would beg for oblivion!
>
>To borrow a phrase from a noted paleontologist, "punctuated immortality"
>might be somewhat interesting? Also eventual, gestalt minds/personalities
>might also make the 'journey' more invigorating. May the right mix of rest
>and activity is what is needed. Also we have no real model of a
>non-biological brain, do we? A sophisticated, intelligent, central nervous
>system that doesn't function via limbic inputs or hypothalamus actions
>might
>yield a mind that's less stressed-out and given to boredom? Opinions?

I will not be bored until I have *all* the answers...what was happening
before the big bang?...who/what caused the big bang? and how?...how will the
universe end?...and what will happen after that?

I imagine that, even with virtually limitless computing power, it will take
a *very* long time (if ever) to definitively answer these questions. Until
then, I won't be bored. Once these questions have been answered boredom
might set it, but I tend to think that the answers will just lead to more
fundamental (and similarly intransigent) questions. I don't think boredom
will be a problem for me for the foreseeable future.

-Zero

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