Why The “You” In An Afterlife Wouldn’t Really Be You
Memories, points of view and the self
By Michael Shermer | Scientific American July 2017 Issue
Third, your unique identity is more than just your intact memories; it is also your personal point of view. Neuroscientist Kenneth Hayworth, a senior scientist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and president of the Brain Preservation Foundation, divided this entity into the MEMself and the POVself. He believes that if a complete MEMself is transferred into a computer (or, presumably, resurrected in heaven), the POVself will awaken. I disagree. If this were done without the death of the person, there would be two memory selves, each with its own POVself looking out at the world through its unique eyes. At that moment, each would take a different path in life, thereby recording different memories based on different experiences. “You” would not suddenly have two POVs. If you died, there is no known mechanism by which your POVself would be transported from your brain into a computer (or a resurrected body). A POV depends entirely on the continuity of self from one moment to the next, even if that continuity is broken by sleep or anesthesia. Death is a permanent break in continuity, and your personal POV cannot be moved from your brain into some other medium, here or in the hereafter.
If this sounds dispiriting, it is just the opposite. Awareness of our mortality is uplifting because it means that every moment, every day and every relationship matters. Engaging deeply with the world and with other sentient beings brings meaning and purpose.
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AYRIAL Launches the First Feng Shui Tips for Amazon Alexa
(AYRIAL) Amazon Alexa users are one step closer to learning about feng shui. The AYRIAL Association of body, mind and spirit lifestyle consultants announces the launch of the AYRIAL Feng Shui skill for Amazon Alexa available on Amazon Echo devices. The voice-activated skill will let thousands of individuals discover the principles of feng shui to enhance their lives.
AYRIAL is the first to provide comprehensive feng shui content via voice activation, an Alexa skill for Amazon Echo and Echo Dot. The AYRIAL Feng Shui skill for Alexa lets users listen to a new feng shui tip every day from a database of feng shui tips. Once new Alexa users enable the AYRIAL Feng Shui skill, they can launch it by simply stating, “Alexa, open feng shui.” Read more!
AYRIAL is a new kind of body, mind and spirit association that features vetted feng shui consultants, astrologers, authentic spiritual mediums, dream experts, meditation teachers and life coaches. In addition to their online presence, AYRIAL utilize’s the latest technology to make it easy for users to connect with a lifestyle consultant and to showcase exclusive content via smartphones using the AYRIAL app available on iTunes and Google Play as well as voice-activated, data-driven platforms like Amazon Alexa. In addition to AYRIAL Feng Shui, AYRIAL will also be releasing new Alexa skills soon!
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