Death of a gedanken creature.
The Journal of near-death studies 1995 DOI: 10.17514/jnds-1995-13-3-p149-166 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 6 |
| Key points | Proposes that a thought experiment involving a computer-created creature that "internally" experiences food and predators as it "dies" suggests that near-death experiences in humans may arise from an "internal" genesis rather than from actual external events. |
Abstract
Paper describing a thought experiment in which a hypothetical creature created by a computer program inhabits a simple universe consisting of itself, food, and predators. As this creature "dies" it "internally" experiences these environmental features independent of their actual presence. More evolved hypothetical creatures generate novel forms of "inner" experiences as they "die." Applying these results to humans suggests an "internal" genesis of near-death experiences.