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The Afterlife....An Imagining

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
"Upload" is a new (2020) TV series on Amazon.
Imagine that there's an afterlife...but no deity. And it's run by a business, Horizen.
In the year 2033, Heaven, as it were, is gained by having one's brain uploaded into
a computer system. Once there, one's consciousness lives in a virtual world.

I know what some of you are thinking....yeah, yeah....it's been done before.
This is a different take on the concept. It's better than others I've seen.
The uploaded people have to pay for everything, but they can't legally work,
so the living must foot the bill. It's a well fleshed out environment....sophisticated
production....comedy....drama....intrigue....mystery....technology...something for all.

Anyway, there are questions....
- Does this afterlife prevent access to heaven?
- Does everyone have a right to be uploaded, & consequently immortal?
- What are relationships like between the living & the uploaded?

I thought the religious aspects might interest some here.
Anyone else seen it? I like it.
 

Terry Sampson

Well-Known Member
What are relationships like between the living & the uploaded?
Obviously given the substantial limitations in physical contact between the living and the uploaded, the relationships lack some of the juicier aspects, but given the "sex suit" and the appropriate virtual reality and computer technology allowing the living to show up "in the world of the uploaded", they sure beat burning in hell, don't cha think?
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
"Upload" is a new (2020) TV series on Amazon.
Imagine that there's an afterlife...but no deity. And it's run by a business, Horizen.
In the year 2033, Heaven, as it were, is gained by having one's brain uploaded into
a computer system. Once there, one's consciousness lives in a virtual world.

I know what some of you are thinking....yeah, yeah....it's been done before.
This is a different take on the concept. It's better than others I've seen.
The uploaded people have to pay for everything, but they can't legally work,
so the living must foot the bill. It's a well fleshed out environment....sophisticated
production....comedy....drama....intrigue....mystery....technology...something for all.

Anyway, there are questions....
- Does this afterlife prevent access to heaven?
- Does everyone have a right to be uploaded, & consequently immortal?
- What are relationships like between the living & the uploaded?

I thought the religious aspects might interest some here.
Anyone else seen it? I like it.

Can't wait for season 2.

Interesting is when the father basically sees the uploads as soulless. The uploads were basically really sophisticated AIs. How would the living know? How could an Upload prove otherwise?

Also interesting the idea of paying for existing. The corporates literally owning your soul. Assuming there is a soul there somewhere.
 

Terry Sampson

Well-Known Member
Does everyone have a right to be uploaded, & consequently immortal
I leave to others to quibble over whether or not the uploaded are immortals, but regarding "a right to be uploaded", the series assumed that only them what's got the money have any rights, and their rights depend on how much money their living loved ones are willing to continue forking over to the company doing and maintaining the "lifestyle" of the uploaded. Right?

I vaguely remember a movement among the living poor demanding that they have the right to be uploaded, don't I?
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
I leave to others to quibble over whether or not the uploaded are immortals, but regarding "a right to be uploaded", the series assumed that only them what's got the money have any rights, and their rights depend on how much money their living loved ones are willing to continue forking over to the company doing and maintaining the "lifestyle" of the uploaded. Right?

I vaguely remember a movement among the living poor demanding that they have the right to be uploaded, don't I?
Yes, you do.
 

Terry Sampson

Well-Known Member
Interesting is when the father basically sees the uploads as soulless
Those who believe in immaterial consciousnesses might grouse over the series' premise: i.e. that I can "exist" in a virtual reality, but my existence is contingent on the functioning of material (computer technology).
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
So in other words no religious aspect but a man made reality, or self motivated future.

So what you are saying attracts you with this show, that it is an excape from having to face there may indeed be God?

Regards Tony
There are those who believe that the upload prevents going to the religious heaven.
 

Terry Sampson

Well-Known Member
Does this afterlife prevent access to heaven?
:eek::confused: Now there's challenging question, IMO, for theologians of the hypothetical.
A fundamental premise of the series seems to be that "I" am my memories, and desires I suppose. So when those are "sucked" out of me and uploaded, what's left? Just my material body, right? On the other hand, in many "religions", when my body ceases to function, my soul goes somewhere. In such a case, it would seem, there would be a soul without memories or desires somewhere and virtual collection of memories and desires "in the cloud". Hmmm, ... somebody go get @Frank Goad and Rational Experiences and see what they think.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
:eek::confused: Now there's challenging question, IMO, for theologians of the hypothetical.
A fundamental premise of the series seems to be that "I" am my memories, and desires I suppose. So when those are "sucked" out of me and uploaded, what's left? Just my material body, right? On the other hand, in many "religions", when my body ceases to function, my soul goes somewhere. In such a case, it would seem, there would be a soul without memories or desires somewhere and virtual collection of memories and desires "in the cloud". Hmmm, ... somebody go get @Frank Goad and Rational Experiences and see what they think.
I thought some people would like to discuss the religious aspects.
They don't interest me though.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
"Upload" is a new (2020) TV series on Amazon.
Imagine that there's an afterlife...but no deity. And it's run by a business, Horizen.
In the year 2033, Heaven, as it were, is gained by having one's brain uploaded into
a computer system. Once there, one's consciousness lives in a virtual world.

I know what some of you are thinking....yeah, yeah....it's been done before.
This is a different take on the concept. It's better than others I've seen.
The uploaded people have to pay for everything, but they can't legally work,
so the living must foot the bill. It's a well fleshed out environment....sophisticated
production....comedy....drama....intrigue....mystery....technology...something for all.

Anyway, there are questions....
- Does this afterlife prevent access to heaven?
- Does everyone have a right to be uploaded, & consequently immortal?
- What are relationships like between the living & the uploaded?

I thought the religious aspects might interest some here.
Anyone else seen it? I like it.

Not see it but sounds suspiciously similar to Iain Banks "Surface Detail"
 

Terry Sampson

Well-Known Member
Anyone else seen it? I like it.
One interesting consequence of the upload process, if it ever could be implemented (which I doubt). You'd sure find out who loves you and how much, wouldn't you?
I turned to my wife some distance into the series and asked: So, whaddya think? Would you pay to have me uploaded for the remainder of your lucid life?

She laughed, and said: What? Are you nuts?
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
One interesting consequence of the upload process, if it ever could be implemented (which I doubt). You'd sure find out who loves you and how much, wouldn't you?
I turned to my wife some distance into the series and asked: So, whaddya think? Would you pay to have me uploaded for the remainder of your lucid life?

She laughed, and said: What? Are you nuts?
It's a fun concept, but I don't see it ever happening.
Btw, Westworld also has an element of AI afterlife in its plot.
 
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