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Heaven & ending it all ("The Good Place" on Netflix)

excreationist

Married mouth-breather
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Aug 28, 2000
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Australia
Basic Beliefs
Probably in a simulation
On the second to last episode ("Chapter 51") they finally go to "the Good Place". The problem is that everyone there is desensitised to pleasure and their brains are going to mush. The solution is that there is a door which allows people to end it all if they want. That makes their current existence seem more special.

In the last episode half of the main characters go through the door to end it all. Two of the other characters are immortal non-humans though.

BTW in the last episodes they redo earth and the afterlife becomes more fair.

I thought it was interesting that they thought of the concept of ending it all after staying in heaven too long. I guess that's a bit like the concept of Nirvana.
 
I found The Good Place to be entertaining and somewhat provocative from various philosophical viewpoints. There's no denying that immortality would consist largely of boredom (to pilfer an old Star Trek character's line).
 
I found The Good Place to be entertaining and somewhat provocative from various philosophical viewpoints. There's no denying that immortality would consist largely of boredom (to pilfer an old Star Trek character's line).

First you have to assume there is something more to the feelings of pleasure and boredom than pure biology.
 
I found The Good Place to be entertaining and somewhat provocative from various philosophical viewpoints. There's no denying that immortality would consist largely of boredom (to pilfer an old Star Trek character's line).

First you have to assume there is something more to the feelings of pleasure and boredom than pure biology.

What I mean is that if this better place is non-corporeal then pleasure and boredom, and indeed all feelings, are non-existent. There must be some other standard by which to measure well-being. So excreationist has a point about it being like Nirvana in that it must eliminate desires, as opposed to merely satisfying them.
 
....What I mean is that if this better place is non-corporeal then pleasure and boredom, and indeed all feelings, are non-existent....
If this involves a simulation then the people in the "good place" could have their brains simulated in a physical way - but tweaked so that they don't feel boredom, etc.

There must be some other standard by which to measure well-being. So excreationist has a point about it being like Nirvana in that it must eliminate desires, as opposed to merely satisfying them.
What I meant about Nirvana is that the people who chose to end it all are having their desires eliminated by their whole existence being eliminated.
 
....What I mean is that if this better place is non-corporeal then pleasure and boredom, and indeed all feelings, are non-existent....

If this involves a simulation then the people in the "good place" could have their brains simulated in a physical way - but tweaked so that they don't feel boredom, etc.

Only saw one recent episode because they had it on a standard cable tv channel for some reason. Found it very weird and maybe I didn't get the idea of what was going on. They were still trying to get to the "good place". But this whole concept of conscious existence as a simulation doesn't provide any added value to my way of thinking. Although it might be what many people experience today the way they can't put down their cell phones.

There must be some other standard by which to measure well-being. So excreationist has a point about it being like Nirvana in that it must eliminate desires, as opposed to merely satisfying them.

What I meant about Nirvana is that the people who chose to end it all are having their desires eliminated by their whole existence being eliminated.

I know. Again, I don't see any percentage in considering the concept of heaven as something one gets bored of. I was saying it would have to entail an existence beyond desire as we know it. If that could be rationalized then you might have a case for the afterlife.
 
Only saw one recent episode because they had it on a standard cable tv channel for some reason. Found it very weird and maybe I didn't get the idea of what was going on. They were still trying to get to the "good place". But this whole concept of conscious existence as a simulation doesn't provide any added value to my way of thinking. Although it might be what many people experience today the way they can't put down their cell phones.

There must be some other standard by which to measure well-being. So excreationist has a point about it being like Nirvana in that it must eliminate desires, as opposed to merely satisfying them.

What I meant about Nirvana is that the people who chose to end it all are having their desires eliminated by their whole existence being eliminated.

I know. Again, I don't see any percentage in considering the concept of heaven as something one gets bored of. I was saying it would have to entail an existence beyond desire as we know it. If that could be rationalized then you might have a case for the afterlife.

They had it on a standard channel because it’s a broadcast network show (NBC).
 
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They had it on a standard channel because it’s a broadcast network show (NBC).

Really? That was the only time I ever saw it listed. It was weird enough that I would have watched it again.

It was on NBC for four years, usually Thursday evenings at 8:30pm Eastern Time.

Then it might have conflicted with Young Sheldon. The story of an atheist genius 10 year old growing up in Texas during the 80's iirc, along with his family including his evangelical mother, sacrilegious grandma and her erstwhile boyfriend and Sheldon's professor recently out from a mental institution. Nothing weird though. No texting from God yet.
 
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