Agnostic.com

14 1

Question about death?

If there is no direct evidence of the death of a historical figure, can it be a possibility that the person never died?

DZhukovin 7 May 24
Share

Enjoy being online again!

Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.

Create your free account

14 comments

Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.

0

Seriously?

0

There would have to be some proof that they were still alive. If you are lost at sea and there is no body to prove that you died then you are still declared dead after 7 years.

@DZhukovin I don't make the laws, just passing the info along.

0

No everything that has ever lived will die

0

You have no direct evidence of my birth, so can it be a possibility that I never lived?

@DZhukovin awwww.... You think I'm intelligent <3

0

We know enough about biology and human physiology to assume that after a given amount of time everyone will die. That is the default, no amount of wishful thinking will change that without some very compelling evidence to the contrary.

JimG Level 8 May 24, 2018
1

Of course not. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

@DZhukovin I don't know what you mean by "correctly handled evidence" or "curiosity about hidden subject matter."

1

It is possible "you" will never die. The reason is a variation on the Schrodenger's cat problem. You can't observe yourself to be dead. Thus if the multi-world interpretation of quantum uncertainty is correct, anytime there is a choice between the observer being dead or alive, the observer will only observe the "observer alive" world of the possible multi-world's.

For example, if you have an emergency operation in which the probability that you will survive is extremely small, say 10%, you will always only see and inhabit the universes in which the outcome is in your favor.

I know this wasn't your question but because I've been educated as a quantum physicist I can't help but think in these lines.

No, for example, it is extremely unlikely that Hitler survived his bunker episode.

0

of course not

0

No, the idea is contrary to reason. No one has beat death yet, if they were alive over one hundred years ago it is a good bet they are dead now and after 150 years you can be sure of it.

0

That is not enough to warrant possibility, especially if the belief that said person never lived is not warranted as well.

@DZhukovin what is the null hypothesis?

@DZhukovin really? How irregular? And how have you reached that conclusion?

@DZhukovin smooth curves don't exist in nature, therefore the distribution of death by age cannot be Gaussian and someone can live for centuries?

@DZhukovin I'm sorry, but that is just plain stupid

0

I'd doubt anyone could live past 130 years of age, after their purported death with no body found. Always wondered about Amelia Earhart and also DB Cooper.

I'm not here to argue. I just think it's highly unlikely that historical figures for whom bodies were never found would be alive once they reached 130 years of age. How many people do you know of who lived past that?

0

And your point being ???

0

Yes, of course. This is true of anything. If there is no evidence of a thing, then there is no proof of it.

@DZhukovin I agree. I wouldn't put too much stock in the words of those who reference mortality or longevity of life in this discussion. We both recognize that those observations are beside the point you're making.

I rest my case.

0

I suggest you watch Bubba Ho-Tep:

@DZhukovin I was trying to lighten the mood, that's all.

BTW, it is a cool film.

In serious answer to your question - a death certificate usually does the job.

@ProudMerry Then dig an extra grave for me 🙂

Write Comment
You can include a link to this post in your posts and comments by including the text q:89165
Agnostic does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content. Read full disclaimer.