– Insane?
– Not really.
– Wild?
– Absolutely!
– Beyond your imagination?
– Perhaps.
– What is it then?
– This.
There is a new manifesto lurking in the shadows, striving to answer one profound question: Can we humans, by our own hands, conquer death?
The manifesto,written without rose-tinted glasses, offers a conceptual adventure grounded in rational hope. It boldly confronts both the darker and brighter sides of the subject at hand.
Implications and complications of the proposed quest are thoroughly analyzed. Temporary conclusions serve as stepping stones toward a better understanding of the necessary tasks ahead.
A truly wide variety of proposed actions is presented to propel this seemingly impossible mission of bringing all the dead back—some classical, and others not so.
Isn’t this just pure madness? No, it’s simply very, very difficult—almost impossible. Almost. So, hang on.
Firstly, consider what mindless evolution has achieved over billions of years. (If you don’t agree with us about 'mindless evolution,' just assume it temporarily, for the sake of argument, and see where it leads.)
Then, think about all human achievements over the last few hundred years. Finally, consider the scientific and technological developments of the recent past.
Now, imagine a civilization with its roots here and now, but characterized by a profound maturity on all levels—from moral to technical. Let’s assume such a civilization survives not just for a few decades or centuries, but for thousands, even millions of years. Now, what if scientific and technological progress continues for that long? What abilities would such a civilization possess? Certainly, assuming progress, many of their skills and knowledge would be beyond ours—perhaps even beyond what we can comprehend. But some aspects might still be understandable to us, perhaps more than we think now.
What if they put all their resources into reconstructing the past—not only the environments or significant events, but every conscious being who has ever existed? In other words, could they bring the dead back?
However, there are other questions beyond their ability to perform a resurrection through scientific means: Do they want to?
Are there ways to increase the probability that, beyond simply ensuring the survival of our contemporary civilization, they will pursue this goal? How can we preserve this ambition for the necessary time? This leads to the need to address organizational strategies.
What else is addressed in the manifesto?
Can we do something substantial about death already now? Are there promising ideas on how to achieve a resurrection through technology?
The question of survival is certainly very basic. Humanity must survive long enough to make the goal a reality, so existential risks must be tackled.
Is all the effort in vain? No. Some conceptually promising methods are introduced and explored in depth, including the age-old question of personal identity. The proposed “how-to”—a hybrid of known concepts—seems theoretically possible, though far beyond our current capabilities.
Finally, the manifesto addresses practical steps, including the creation of grassroots movements, and more—returning to the 'Here and Now'. And to make sure we understand each other: It's a plan, not a belief-system.