Could A 'Digital Afterlife' Make Us Immortal?

Could mind upload technology soothe our fears of death? Here's why a digital life after death is both feared and desired.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | January 22, 2024

A new study published in the journal Frontiers In Psychology investigated the level of moral approval for "mind upload" technology in the future, which refers to a currently hypothetical concept of transferring the information and contents of a human brain, including memories, thoughts and one's consciousness into a digital or synthetic substrate.

You may have come across this concept in the Black Mirror episode San Junipero or in the T.V. show, Upload. A mind upload would create a comprehensive and functional copy or simulation of a person's mind, allowing it to exist beyond the limitations of a biological body. This raises numerous scientific, ethical and philosophical questions about human identity and the nature of consciousness itself.

Here are two reasons why mind upload technology may be desired or feared, according to the study.

1. Afterlife Beliefs

There are a wide range of perspectives regarding what happens to a person's consciousness, soul or essence after death. Ideas range from believing that nothing happens beyond one's physical end to believing in reincarnation, new realms such as heaven or hell, merging with a larger cosmic consciousness and so on.

Researchers found connections between individuals' morality and their metaphysical world views. The study revealed that individuals who do not believe in an afterlife show the highest moral approval for mind upload technology, while those who are certain about the existence of an afterlife show the least. Those who are uncertain lie somewhere in the middle.

The moral approval for mind uploads may stem from viewing digital immortality as a potential, secular path to eternal life. Conversely, those who believe in life after death typically see no need for this technology and may even disapprove of it. For instance, certain religious groups that emphasize moral purity might view mind uploading as akin to suicide or tampering with the natural order of life and God's will.

Additionally, those with strong afterlife beliefs tend to have lower death anxiety whereas a fear of death or eternal nothingness may motivate the desire to secure a digital afterlife. A 2020 study found that artificial life extension reduces the fear of death in atheists, but the idea of a supernatural afterlife does not, which may explain their higher approval of mind uploads.

Moral approval of mind uploading can also be influenced by cultural or personal beliefs and personality traits. For instance, research shows that moral acceptance of mind upload technology is linked to Utilitarianism and Machiavellianism as well as exposure to science fiction narratives that can promote openness to transhumanistic advancements.

2. Existential Mattering

"Existential mattering" refers to the feeling that one's existence holds significance or meaning within the broader context of life, society or the universe. Researchers found that experiencing higher levels of existential mattering are linked to lower approval for mind uploads, especially in individuals who were uncertain about an afterlife.

However, individuals with lower levels of mattering coupled with the uncertainty about an afterlife approved of mind uploads as much as non-believers did. In other words, believing that one's life matters or even that their legacy will symbolically live on after death can curb the need to extend one's life digitally, even if a supernatural afterlife is uncertain.

While research shows that the feeling of mattering is linked to spiritual beliefs and religiosity, it still influences both believers and non-believers to morally disapprove of mind uploads, possibly by reducing death-related anxiety.

The acceptance of mortality itself may paradoxically enhance the meaningfulness of life. Recognizing the finite nature of existence encourages individuals to cherish each moment, deepen their connections and pursue endeavors that bring genuine fulfillment. This acknowledgment of life's impermanence can help embrace the richness of the present moment, with the quest for eternal digital existence losing its allure.

Conclusion

The moral acceptance or rejection of mind upload technology appears intricately linked to individuals' spiritual or religious convictions, their perceptions of life's significance and their fear or acceptance of mortality. Transhumanistic advancements like mind uploads invite us to reflect on deeper existential questions surrounding life, death and the potential redefinition of human existence in an ever-changing world.

A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com, here.