Pessimistic View of Eternal Life Thesis

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Nor would sexual saturation without challenge be the Heavenly solution to sexual frustration in life. In principle Heaven would provide the precise mix of success and failure that corresponded to maximum happiness; it would not provide unlimited success if that would detract from its value. In Heaven, one would have the opportunity to play only as much golf as would be maximally enjoyable; one would be precisely as proficient at the game as to reinforce rather than detract from its enjoyment. Likewise, if sexual encounters without any prospect of rejection would be unfulfilling, Heaven would provide the precise mix of success and failure to avoid reducing the subjective pleasure involved. Therefore, it is Barnes's lack of imagination rather than the limitations of Heaven that account for his conclusions.

Counterargument

The counterargument is that anything would become boring if one lived eternally, including even the perfect mix of success and failure, whether with respect to golf, sexual fulfillment, or anything else that human beings are capable of enjoying during the ordinary life span. In an eternity, one would play golf so often (i.e. An infinite number of times) and eventually encounter every possible shot and combination of shots and outcomes an infinite number of times. The same is true of scenarios leading to sexual fulfillment. The sheer nature of eternity entails an infinite number of experiences of every type, which would eventually lead to boredom anyway.

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Response to Counterargument and Conclusion

The discussion about "Heaven" is nonsensical in the first place, as is the notion that one's "soul" would maintain the same values and goals in the "afterlife" as in life. However, Barnes raises an interesting issue in relation to the concept of endless life (i.e. life on earth). Naturally, if extending life meant living much of it in old age and poor health, life extension would be of questionable value. The same would be true if one limited experiences to the pursuit of golf or sexual conquests.

However, assuming one could live eternally but healthily, there is absolutely no reason to imagine that life would necessarily become unfulfilling or boring. The opposite is likely true: instead of choosing one (or a few) main interests in life, one could pursue endless goals, each of which would be as fulfilling as it would have been had it been one's only choice in a shorter life. In fact, each half century could represent a new opportunity to embark on the equivalent of a brand new life of fulfilling interests and goals. In theory, the same would apply to eternal "Heavenly" existence as….....

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