The transhumanist notion of digital immortality (mind-uploading) is a misnomer and conceptually invalid, because it is based on a flawed presupposition of binary distinction between life and death. The multifaceted nature of death involving single cells, multicellular organisms, and human brains shows that the process of death plays a crucial role in sustaining life. Immortality without death pursued by transhumanists is an erroneous concept not supported by biological appraisal of death. East Asian religions and theology generally agree with this claim. Thus, we further postulate that death is not only an integral part of life but also a gracious gift that enables a life to grow into its higher domain; namely , mortality is the presupposition of an elevated life and so eventually immortality
A Biological Appraisal of Death
Definitions of Life and Death
Evolutionary History of Death
Brain Death
Interim Summary
An East Asian Religious Reflection
Life and Death Co-exist as Part of the Whole
Death is Critical to Our Transformation to Attain True Humanity
Death Contributes to Our Role in Stories Larger than Ourselves
Conclusion
BIBLIOGRAPHY