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Metaphysical immortality
One concept of immortality we find in the traditional great religions. We
designate it as metaphysical immortality. It is known as immortality
of soul, life after death, etc. The immortality as understood in the classical religions I
designate as metaphysical. Metempsychosis, the lore of migration of souls, is also a variation on this theme. The basic
feature of metaphysical immortality is that it is limited to the
conceptual sphere. No physical reality takes part in forming this
concept. In fact, the concept defies physical reality and proclaims the reality of a different kind -- call it spiritual, or
metaphysical. The protest against death is used here as a
stimulus to accept the teaching; after all, from the very beginning it
promises immortality. Under the influence of the critical scientific
method, the metaphysical notions of immortality, once very concrete and
appealing, are becoming increasingly abstract and pale; old religious
systems are slowly but surely losing their influence.
Copyright© 1991 Principia Cybernetica -
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