Anil Seth writes in response to a request from Gardian contributor James Baily: “We do not usually worry much about the oblivion that preceded our birth, so why should we worry about the equivalent oblivion that will follow our death? Oblivion isn’t the experience of absence, it is the absence of experience. As the novelist Julian Barnes put it, in his meditation on mortality, there is ‘nothing to be frightened of.’ ".
That is an interesting concept: “. . . equivalent oblivion that will follow our death . . .”. I agree that, for us, there is an oblivion before our birth since the sperm and egg have not yet knit together, we do not yet exist. But to say there is oblivion after death is a faith statement, an assertion made on presumption. Between those assumed oblivions there exists a life, a life of experience and the build up of skills and knowledge. Dr. Seth lives a life in his own experience. He has attained the status of a Neural Scientist. He has acquired this status through work and interactions with others, including the recorded experiences of other historical humans. Apparently all this will result in oblivion.
Or we can believe there is more to life than our own experience. Heb 11:6 says: "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists . . ." Since God exists, there is no, nor has ever been, oblivion in the sense of nonexistence. God exists, and we exist. We exist because we were created by him. Yet some, for whatever reason, would prefer to think there is no God. We all from the time we were born have lives that will never end. Sadly some will forever wish there was oblivion.
