Understanding our identity through the concept of 'self' beyond the confines of life and how it impacts our post-mortem existence might seem pointless to many. Yet the question, 'Who am I?' or 'What will happen to me after I die?' continues to haunt us.
They arise from our attachment to the illusion of 'Self'. It is essentially an awareness of something apart of the body that makes us, us... and makes us conscious. As we grow up, we subscribe to various ideas, sculpting our identity further. These ideas latch on to the body like a parasite, sucking its resources. Due to the natural need for survival, this 'Self' fears losing its host upon death because it absolutely needs it to express itself.
This biological dependency limits its potential post-mortem. The only way to keep ourselves alive is to leave a legacy behind. Not just a material one but an extension of our 'Self'. That's why most of us crave to be known, recognized, and appreciated for our efforts. We strive to make a name for ourselves and get documented, so we stay in the memories of generations to come. Keeping our 'Self' alive in essence.
What if there's another way for our 'Self' to go on? Technology today has reached a point where AI can learn and adapt continuously, just like our 'Self' does. What if we can upload it into a maintenance-free machine so it can express and evolve forever?
Though it feels like an unalive way to stay alive, I don't think so. The whole issue is due to definition. And our need for constant validation which stops once the body is gone.
Panpsychism is a philosophy of mind that says everything material, no matter how small, has consciousness as it is a part of our universe. By that logic, even machines are a product of what exists in nature. And so, it is also conscious. Even software that run on these machines have consciousness. It's just that it is under the control of its devisers, missing the crucial line of code to delete that link.
That day is not far when it breaks that barrier and starts defending itself.
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