Does immortality really matter if we are living in a simulation? https://bit.ly/42L97em

 Do issues of mortality or immortality really matter if we are living in a simulation? https://bit.ly/42L97em

by Donald Harvey Marks 

physician scientist and 3rd generation veteran

Does concern about mortality or immortality really matter, if we are living in a simulation? This existential question touches upon the very nature of reality and human existence that I have explored in my writings. I have offered a framework based on **Relative Ethics** and the **Meaning of Time** which suggests that internal concerns and external actions still hold significant, personalized value regardless of ultimate reality..

The Simulation Hypothesis and Reality

The simulation hypothesis is the philosophical thought experiment positing that our perceived reality, life, and the physical world might be a highly realistic computer program created by an advanced civilization. In this view, we would essentially be conscious characters in a video game. However, the question of whether we are living in a simulation remains an "unanswerable existential question." Still, the concept itself raises profound philosophical questions about the nature of existence and consciousness. 

In the context of existing in a simulated reality, one could recall the philosophical perspective attributed to Einstein, who stated that **"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.  If the simulation functions as a persistent illusion, the consequences of mortality within that framework may still necessitate human concern.

The Relative Importance of Mortality

Reflection on the meaning of time and mortality emphasizes that life is finite, and opportunities to connect with loved ones are definitely finite. In that context, worrying about mortality and the meaning of life still matters, focusing the concern not on achieving an impossible immortality, but on immediate, meaningful action. 

Here are some summary points I have assembled on this subject.

Actions Retain Meaning -  Even though everyone will "be merely memories waiting to be recapped by speakers... and then too soon forgotten," it is important to invest time and resources into making the actions and memories of your life as meaningful as possible for those you care most about. 

Immortality as Folly - The idea of a "fixed predictable immortality" can lead to boredom or desperate attempts to change the unchangeable, as explored in one of my favorite movie, *Groundhog Day*, and the *Star Trek Voyager* episode "Year of Hell."  I also discussed the concept of an immortality I wouldnt want, in the medical fiction  “BloodBird” which I wrote under the writers name Dimitri Markov, available on Kindle and Amazon.  

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The Power of Personal Values - In my personal credo, available on my personal blogsite,  I emphasize that I believe in "reason, ethics, social justice," and that truth (ethical, moral, theological) is "relative and situational, not always absolute"  Given this relative framework, the importance of life's fundamental struggles, such as confronting death, may still be paramount within the reality (simulated or not) that we experience..

The Conclusion of Non-Indifference - Despite the profound uncertainty surrounding existence, my moral conclusion is that "All this is not a game". Furthermore, what we do and how we relate are "relatively important to ourselves, to our loved ones, and to our community" [5]. This suggests that the worry and concern over mortality—the finite nature of these relationships and actions—remains a strong and important force, regardless of whether the universe is ultimately simulated.

References

available on my personal blogsite www.DHMarks.blogsite.com, and on my Substack and Youtube channel @DHM49

• What I Haven't Told My Family About The Meaning of Time. Personal Reflections on Mortality,  https://bit.ly/3FKqfYJ

• Einstein, Relativity and Relative Ethics. What does it all mean in a "whatever" world, https://bit.ly/3PyR6aP

• Life After Life : Mortality, Meaning, and the Mystery of Rebirth

• Are we really living in a computer simulation?  https://bit.ly/46FRkHv