The Existential Passage Hypothesis

In this paper, I will assume that metaphysical naturalism is true, except for the fact that some form of property dualism is true—the view that mental properties are essentially different from, and not reducible to, physical properties. If that is the case, then contrary to a widespread belief, death does not bring about eternal oblivion, a permanent cessation of the stream of consciousness at the moment of death. Several authors (Clark, 1994, n.d.; Darling, 1996; Stewart, 1999; Sharlow, 2009) have independently argued that the stream of consciousness continues after death—devoid of the body’s former memories and personality traits—and it does so as the stream of consciousness of new, freshly conscious bodies (other humans, animals, etc., that are conceived and develop consciousness). And so, any permanent cessation of the stream of consciousness at the moment of death is impossible as long as new, freshly conscious bodies come to exist. Consciousness is defined here as awareness, and is not limited to self-awareness (i.e., the recognition of one’s awareness). In this paper, I will argue for a new, more general thesis, namely the extended existential passage hypothesis. This new thesis has significant implications regarding the requirements of rational choice, as I will point out in this paper.