A Syllogism Concerning Life

[sdi]

1. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but may change from one form to another.

2. Consciousness is energy.

3. Therefore, consciousness may neither be created or destroyed, but may change from one form to another.

4. We typically call "creation of consciousness," "birth;" and "destruction of consciousness," "death."

5. Therefore, birth and death (of consciousness) are impossible, and merely represent changes in the form of consciousness.

(With all respect to Socrates in the Phædo)

Comments

[thinking_turtle]

Interesting. My consciousness seemed to gain strength when I was young, and is becoming weaker as I grow old. I've always pictured this as energy seeping away.

[sdi]

I'm sorry to say that my own memories of my youth are too few and scattered to offer any comparison.