What happens after we die? Is there an afterlife?

A quick Google search to answer one of humanity's most profound and enduring questions often yields a blunt and definitive response: According to science, consciousness simply ceases to exist, and that's it. Traditionally, the concept of life after death has been regarded as a matter of religious or philosophical belief, seemingly beyond the reach of scientific inquiry.

However, these assertions, while appearing definitive, are fundamentally flawed and conceptually misguided. In this post, I will demonstrate that the afterlife is not only a valid subject for scientific inquiry but also that an empirical approach to studying consciousness beyond death is both feasible and necessary.

The ongoing discourse surrounding the nature of reality, consciousness, and the possibility of an afterlife often centers around a philosophical framework known as physicalism. This theory posits that all phenomena, including mental states and consciousness, can be fully explained through physical processes. Essentially, physicalism asserts that everything we experience—our thoughts, emotions, and sensory perceptions—boils down to the workings of the brain and the material world.

While physicalism enjoys significant acceptance within the scientific community, it is crucial to recognize that it is not an immutable doctrine. History demonstrates that our understanding........

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