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How do you describe death to a person who's from a world where nothing ever dies?
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Karl literature.cafe Karl@literature.cafe
Joined: 2025-10-11
(edited) Quote

Let's say if we were to meat someone from a different universe where things never die, how would you explain death to them?

26   Original
TrackinDaKraken lemmy.world DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-02-26
#2 · Quote Reply

We can't even explain death to ourselves.

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IWW4 lemmy.zip IWW4@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-07-12
#3 · Quote Reply

All biological functions of an organism stops.

Now what happens to the mental and cognitive functions is unknown.

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jordanlund lemmy.world jordanlund@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-30
#4 · Quote Reply

Where NOTHING dies? That's going to make meal prep super awkward.

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Karl literature.cafe Karl@literature.cafe
Joined: 2025-10-11
#5 · Quote Reply

Where NOTHING dies? That's going to make meal prep super awkward.

They rawdog energy from their star

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Rhynoplaz lemmy.world Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-07
#6 · Quote Reply

Where NOTHING dies? That's going to make meal prep super awkward.

Just slice off a chunk of ol' Bessie each day, and you'll eat steak for the rest of your life!

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Rhynoplaz lemmy.world Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-07
#7 · Quote Reply

All biological functions of an organism stops. Now what happens to the mental and cognitive functions is unknown.

It's pretty well known that they stop too.

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tyrant lemmy.world tyrant@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-19
#8 · Quote Reply

We can't even explain death to ourselves.

We can. We just don't want to believe there is an end.

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Zwuzelmaus feddit.org Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org
Joined: 2024-12-14
#9 · Quote Reply

All biological functions of an organism stops. Now what happens to the mental and cognitive functions is unknown.

Thinking is function of the brain. The immortal soul is not a function of a body part.

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CodenameDarlen lemmy.world CodenameDarlen@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-08-28
#10 · Quote Reply

[deleted]
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Redacted lemmy.zip Redacted@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-01-14
#11 · Quote Reply

The same way you do to a child. They go away and can never come back

11
pmw lemmy.world pmw@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-22
#12 · Quote Reply

You describe birth, youth, parental love, new beginnings, etc. first, because those things could not exist without death.

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Send Pics of Sandwiches sh.itjust.works Sendpicsofsandwiches@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-06-20
#13 · Quote Reply

Just pining for the Fjords

3
SuperDuper lemmy.world superduperenigma@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-14
#14 · Quote Reply

Where NOTHING dies? That's going to make meal prep super awkward.

I think number 2 the next day would be a more harrowing experience.

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3rdXthecharm lemmy.ml 3rdXthecharm@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2026-01-06
#15 · Quote Reply

"Like a leaf caught aflame, it's matter converted to heat and the bonds broken down to ash. It's not gone, it's structure has changed to the point of no longer being 'a leaf', and what we see before us when looking at someone/something who has passed on is the same as ashes in the fire. Changed, but jot truly gone"

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AstroLightz lemmy.world AstroLightz@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-29
#16 · Quote Reply

You go to sleep and you never wake up.

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「黃家駒 Wong Ka Kui」(old account, migrated to Piefed) sh.itjust.works DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2025-06-23
#17 · Quote Reply

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peOFMz4ca6c

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MajorMajormajormajor lemmy.ca MajorMajormajormajor@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-12
#18 · Quote Reply

I think number 2 the next day would be a more harrowing experience.

Maybe it's a fun 8 hour rollercoaster ride?

2
Fleur_ aussie.zone Fleur_@aussie.zone
Joined: 2025-04-23
#19 · Quote Reply

Kill something Infront of them

2
Nibodhika lemmy.world Nibodhika@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-10
#20 · Quote Reply

They rawdog energy from their star

Their star would eventually die. Flames would die, objects break, it's not a far fetched thing to think that similar stuff can happen to living beings.

2
CanadaPlus lemmy.sdf.org CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
Joined: 2023-06-12
#21 · (edited) Quote Reply

You know how right now, things are happening in other places that you'll never be a part of or know about, because you can only be in one? It's like that but with times.

It gets across the concept of nonexistence, although that might leave confusion about if you live only once or multiple times. If they're still born at some point, I could say it's like that but the opposite.

3
CanadaPlus lemmy.sdf.org CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
Joined: 2023-06-12
#22 · (edited) Quote Reply

They rawdog energy from their star

I love this description of photosynthesis.

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crimsonpoodle pawb.social crimsonpoodle@pawb.social
Joined: 2023-09-24
#23 · Quote Reply

You know when someone isn’t around and you can’t see them? Well imagine that someone were in a place where no one in the world could see them. The person in this separate place is sleeping but does not dream.

2
Fokeu lemmy.zip Fokeu@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-12-09
#24 · Quote Reply

All biological functions of an organism stops. Now what happens to the mental and cognitive functions is unknown.

Human mind is also a biological function so it's pretty straightforward.

3
dil lemmy.zip dil@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-06-05
#25 · Quote Reply

Leaving and never coming back ever

3
Areldyb lemmy.world Areldyb@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-03-31
#26 · Quote Reply

I'm having trouble imagining a real universe "where nothing ever dies". What counts as a thing? What counts as dying? If nothing ever changes then nothing dies, but if nothing changes then I can't explain anything at all to this person.

Alternately, they're from a toy universe, like a game with no death condition, but even those depend on outside things to continue existing. Eventually the game stops and everything in the universe "dies", but otherwise there's nothing in their world that ever dies. Maybe that's close enough.

Anyway:

"You know how right now I'm talking, but eventually I'm going to stop? Imagine being like that."

4
MonkderVierte lemmy.zip MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-05-30
#27 · Quote Reply

[deleted]
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CMLVI lemmy.world CMLVI@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-04-29
#28 · Quote Reply

You reading Project Hail Mary? And Ryland is talking to the Eridians?

1
Karl literature.cafe Karl@literature.cafe
Joined: 2025-10-11
#29 · (edited) Quote Reply

You reading Project Hail Mary? And Ryland is talking to the Eridians?

Been a long time since I read it. Eridians are immortal ?!?!

2
Karl literature.cafe Karl@literature.cafe
Joined: 2025-10-11
#30 · Quote Reply

[deleted]

It's an hypothetical scenario, genius

2
Karl literature.cafe Karl@literature.cafe
Joined: 2025-10-11
#31 · Quote Reply

I love this description of photosynthesis.

Feel free to steal it

2
Karl literature.cafe Karl@literature.cafe
Joined: 2025-10-11
#32 · Quote Reply

Kill something Infront of them

Weirdo

1
Karl literature.cafe Karl@literature.cafe
Joined: 2025-10-11
#33 · Quote Reply

[deleted]

It's like the universe raping you and there's nothing you can do.

...

2
CMLVI lemmy.world CMLVI@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-04-29
#34 · Quote Reply

Been a long time since I read it. Eridians are immortal ?!?!

Idk yet! I'm still reading it lol. I just got to the part where he ponders explaining sleep to Rocky, and it reminded me of that. Then I saw your comment talking about getting energy directly from sunlight and I was like "this dude must be reading it too" lol

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Kazel lemmy.dbzer0.com Kazel@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2024-03-19
#35 · Quote Reply

at a random time you cease to exist just because

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Crackhappy lemmy.world Crackhappy@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-09
#36 · Quote Reply

Idk yet! I'm still reading it lol. I just got to the part where he ponders explaining sleep to Rocky, and it reminded me of that. Then I saw your comment talking about getting energy directly from sunlight and I was like "this dude must be reading it too" lol

Blinding reading tbe blind in here.

2
Karl literature.cafe Karl@literature.cafe
Joined: 2025-10-11
#37 · Quote Reply

Idk yet! I'm still reading it lol. I just got to the part where he ponders explaining sleep to Rocky, and it reminded me of that. Then I saw your comment talking about getting energy directly from sunlight and I was like "this dude must be reading it too" lol

It's definitely one of my favorite books xD, idgaf what some people say

2
CMLVI lemmy.world CMLVI@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-04-29
#38 · Quote Reply

It's definitely one of my favorite books xD, idgaf what some people say

It's been enjoyable so far! Nice change of pace from what I've been reading. I just want Ryland to curse one time. He's too wholesome.

2
reksas sopuli.xyz reksas@sopuli.xyz
Joined: 2023-06-11
#39 · Quote Reply

without death there is no end and without end there is no real beginning either since the word doesnt even have meaning at that point. And without end there is also no change, because changing enough would be also kind of an ending and also "dying" as one version of you stops and another begins. Could such being even be sentient enough to understand you? Would it want to be?

1
Randomgal lemmy.ca Randomgal@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2024-01-17
#40 · Quote Reply

That pile of dirt is going to walk and talk around for a while. And then it's going back to being an insert pile of dirt.

3
starman2112 sh.itjust.works starman2112@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-08-10
#41 · Quote Reply

without death there is no end and without end there is no real beginning either since the word doesnt even have meaning at that point. And without end there is also no change, because changing enough would be also kind of an ending and also "dying" as one version of you stops and another begins. Could such being even be sentient enough to understand you? Would it want to be?

I'm going to push back a bit. Ending doesn't necessitate death. A movie ends. You don't need an end to have a beginning, either—the positive integers begin at 1. Your second sentence is begging the question. You assert that without death there couldn't be endings, and change is a kind of ending, so without death there couldn't be change. But plenty of things change without dying. I used to be a baby. My infancy ended without my infant death.

If we take OP's question to include anything that could even metaphorically be compared to death, then there wouldn't even be such a universe, because any instant in time could be described as the "death" of a prior instant in time

1
reksas sopuli.xyz reksas@sopuli.xyz
Joined: 2023-06-11
#42 · Quote Reply

I'm going to push back a bit. Ending doesn't necessitate death. A movie ends. You don't need an end to have a beginning, either—the positive integers begin at 1. Your second sentence is begging the question. You assert that without death there couldn't be endings, and change is a kind of ending, so without death there couldn't be change. But plenty of things change without dying. I used to be a...

Way I see it, death is something that is in between different states, something ends and something else begins.

2
jobbies lemmy.zip jobbies@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-07-21
#43 · Quote Reply

I'm having trouble imagining a real universe "where nothing ever dies". What counts as a thing? What counts as dying? If nothing ever changes then nothing dies, but if nothing changes then I can't explain anything at all to this person. Alternately, they're from a toy universe, like a game with no death condition, but even those depend on outside things to continue existing. Eventually the game...

Its a world where your car or washing machine never breaks down and goes on forever. I can get on board with that.

1
FreshParsnip lemmy.ca FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-07-02
#44 · Quote Reply

Ceasing of all functions

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FreshParsnip lemmy.ca FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-07-02
#45 · Quote Reply

Where NOTHING dies? That's going to make meal prep super awkward.

Maybe they wouldn't need to eat

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FreshParsnip lemmy.ca FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-07-02
#46 · Quote Reply

Their star would eventually die. Flames would die, objects break, it's not a far fetched thing to think that similar stuff can happen to living beings.

Maybe in that universe, stars don't die either. Everything is everlasting. There probably wouldn't be reproduction because there'd be no need

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🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 🇮 pawb.social Kolanaki@pawb.social
Joined: 2024-10-06
#47 · (edited) Quote Reply

The entity you knew as yaddayadda is gone and the only thing left behind is an empty, decaying shell and the memories we have of them in our minds.

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