Side note: the Universe with finite number of states is quite depressive picture since it means that inevitably everything will just end up in the highest entropy state, so, the inevitable end of humanity.
Yes, according to our best current understanding of cosmology, the universe itself will eventually die (i.e. become unable to sustain life).
Of course, it contradicts nothing, but in this model any discussion of existential threats for the humanity (like superintelligence quite popular here) makes no sense since the end is unavoidable.
Again the laws of physics are what they are and don’t care what I want.
But in the most likely scenarios, this will take a very long time. The Stelliferous Era (when the stars shine) is predicted to last 100 trillion years, and we’re not even 14 billion years into it. Civilization may continue to extract energy from black holes for a time many orders of magnitude longer than that.
It’s not completely hopeless. Maybe in that time we’ll figure out how to make basement universes and transfer civilization into a new one, as Nick Bostrom et al have argued may be possible.
But even if we ultimately can’t, shouldn’t we try? Shouldn’t we do the best we can? Wouldn’t you rather live for over 100 trillion years than die at 120 at best?
″ It’s not completely hopeless. Maybe in that time we’ll figure out how to make basement universes and transfer civilization into a new one, as Nick Bostrom et al have argued may be possible. ”
Yeah, you see then all the future possible observations data becomes infinite.
″ But even if we ultimately can’t, shouldn’t we try? Shouldn’t we do the best we can? Wouldn’t you rather live for over 100 trillion years than die at 120 at best? ”
Of course, we should try—because there is a chance that we can. Not because we would live 10^14 years and all die. We will count that we survive forever, or it will be pretty miserable 10^14 years without any hope.
Yes, according to our best current understanding of cosmology, the universe itself will eventually die (i.e. become unable to sustain life).
Again the laws of physics are what they are and don’t care what I want.
But in the most likely scenarios, this will take a very long time. The Stelliferous Era (when the stars shine) is predicted to last 100 trillion years, and we’re not even 14 billion years into it. Civilization may continue to extract energy from black holes for a time many orders of magnitude longer than that.
It’s not completely hopeless. Maybe in that time we’ll figure out how to make basement universes and transfer civilization into a new one, as Nick Bostrom et al have argued may be possible.
But even if we ultimately can’t, shouldn’t we try? Shouldn’t we do the best we can? Wouldn’t you rather live for over 100 trillion years than die at 120 at best?
″ It’s not completely hopeless. Maybe in that time we’ll figure out how to make basement universes and transfer civilization into a new one, as Nick Bostrom et al have argued may be possible. ”
Yeah, you see then all the future possible observations data becomes infinite.
″ But even if we ultimately can’t, shouldn’t we try? Shouldn’t we do the best we can? Wouldn’t you rather live for over 100 trillion years than die at 120 at best? ”
Of course, we should try—because there is a chance that we can. Not because we would live 10^14 years and all die. We will count that we survive forever, or it will be pretty miserable 10^14 years without any hope.