Eternal oblivion

Eternal oblivion (also referred to as non-existence or nothingness)^[1]^[2] is the philosophical, religious, or scientific concept of one's consciousness forever ceasing upon death. Pamela Health and Jon Klimo write that this concept is mostly associated with religious skepticism, secular humanism, nihilism, agnosticism, and atheism.^[3] According to most modern neuroscience theories of consciousness, the brain is the basis of subjective experience, agency, self-awareness, and awareness of the surrounding natural world. When brain death occurs, all brain function forever ceases.^[4]

Many neuroscientists and neurophilosophers, such as Daniel Dennett, believe that consciousness is dependent upon the functioning of the brain and death is a cessation of consciousness. Scientific research has discovered that some areas of the brain, like the reticular activating system or the thalamus, appear to be necessary for consciousness, because dysfunction of or damage to these structures causes a loss of consciousness.^[5] Through a naturalist analysis of the mind, it is regarded as being dependent on the brain, as shown from the various effects of brain damage.^[6] Some interpretations of studies of near-death experiences have suggested against the idea of consciousness ceasing upon death, and it may continue even after brain function ceases.^[7]^[8]

^ Clark, Thomas W. "Death, Nothingness, and Subjectivity". Naturalism.org. Center for Naturalism. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
^ Schell, Jonathan (2004). The Jonathan Schell Reader: On the United States at War, the Long Crisis of the American Republic, and the Fate of the Earth. New York: Nation Books. ISBN 978-1560254072.
^ Heath, Pamela; Klimo, Jon (2010). Handbook to the Afterlife. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. p. 18. ISBN 978-1556438691. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
^ Chalmers, David John (1996). The conscious mind : in search of a fundamental theory. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-585-35313-1. OCLC 47011200.
^ Dennett, D. C. (1991). Consciousness explained. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 0-316-18065-3. OCLC 23648691.
^ Hallquist, Chris (20 January 2013). "Neuroscience and the Soul". The Uncredible HallQ. Patheos.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2015. Quoting neuroscientist Sam Harris (video Archived 6 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine).
^ "'Erasing Death' Explores The Science Of Resuscitation". NPR. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
^ "Agnostic Psychiatrist Says Near-Death Experiences Are Real". 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.

[DNS-1] Clark, Thomas W. "Death, Nothingness, and Subjectivity". Naturalism.org. Center for Naturalism. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.

[Schell_Reader-2] Schell, Jonathan (2004). The Jonathan Schell Reader: On the United States at War, the Long Crisis of the American Republic, and the Fate of the Earth. New York: Nation Books. ISBN 978-1560254072.

[Heath_2010-3] Heath, Pamela; Klimo, Jon (2010). Handbook to the Afterlife. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. p. 18. ISBN 978-1556438691. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2012.

[4] Chalmers, David John (1996). The conscious mind : in search of a fundamental theory. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-585-35313-1. OCLC 47011200.

[5] Dennett, D. C. (1991). Consciousness explained. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 0-316-18065-3. OCLC 23648691.

[Neuroscience_and_the_soul-6] Hallquist, Chris (20 January 2013). "Neuroscience and the Soul". The Uncredible HallQ. Patheos.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2015. Quoting neuroscientist Sam Harris (video Archived 6 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine).

[7] "'Erasing Death' Explores The Science Of Resuscitation". NPR. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.

[8] "Agnostic Psychiatrist Says Near-Death Experiences Are Real". 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.

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