The Physics of Immortality

by Frank J. Tipler

Book Overview

Is there a higher power in the universe? What happens to us when we die? Leading physicist Frank J. Tipler tackles these questions and more in an astonishing and profoundly important book that... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385467982
• Release Date: August 1994
• Publisher: Doubleday
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.8" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Brilliant if outdated attempt to merge physics and theology

Tipler says that he used to be an unquestioning atheist, but his work in quantum cosmology has brought him to the conclusion that there is a physically justifiable theory of how "God" and "immortality after death" might make sense. I only skimmed the book, but I have to say that, as a physicist, I was surprised to find the quality of his arguments to be a lot better than I expected. (Talk about having "proved" the existence of God is greatly overstated. It would be more accurate to say that, if certain physical conditions could be shown to hold, then the existence of something vaguely like God might be remotely plausible based on his arguments. But see the end of this review.) The compressed version of the theory is... Tipler (as I do) subscribes to the "strong Artificial Intelligence" belief that if you translated the dynamics of what goes on in our brains into another medium (e.g., a futuristic computer), in a sense it wouldn't make any difference -- our "emulated" selves would be as conscious and real as we are. He outlines a scenario under which, in a closed universe, in the final moments of the universe, there could be an infinite amount of computing that occurs. So much in fact, that all the human lives that ever occurred (or ever could have occurred) could be emulated through infinite subjective time. The computing entities that exist at the end of the universe would get there via exponentially replicating intelligent machines that we (or conceivably another intelligent race) send out into the universe. Based on game theory and economic arguments, he makes it plausible that the intelligences at the end of the universe would be highly altruistic. And then based on quantum cosmology, he argues for bidirectional causality between here and the end of the universe (I haven't digested that argument). Not exactly something most traditionally religious folks would recognize. But, as a theory of how "God" and physics could be merged, to my mind it's pretty brilliant. (Doesn't mean it's right.) Note, however, that the book was written in the early 90's. Tipler provides some experimental tests one can do to assess whether or not we're in a universe where the conditions are right to make his scenario possible. One of the most important tests -- verification that we're in a closed universe -- has already been answered (we seem to be in a defiantly open universe) in a way that implies we are NOT in a universe where Tipler's scenario could hold true. Still, very interesting reading.

An optimistic look at the end of the universe

This was a mind-blowing book for me. Tipler lays out a testable hypothesis (The Omega Point Theory or OPT) about the end of the universe that shows how it would be possible for "life" to last forever in subjective time, even though the universe will end in a finite amount of "proper" time. Furthermore, based on projections of computing power available near the end of the universe, Tipler tries to show that the resurrection (via perfect emulation) of all humans who have ever lived is not only possible, but very likely.This "Omega Point Theory" comes across as extremely controversial because of Tipler's efforts to integrate religion into his physics. The Omega Point, which is a virtual computer that will have near-infinite computing power, is predicted to have many of the abilities of what most people think of as God. A lot of the book is taken up with passages from religious texts in an attempt to show the the Omega Point corresponds closely to the God referred to in many different religions. There are also discussions of free will, hell and heaven. The section on an Omega Point-created future heaven opens Tipler to easy ridicule by skeptics, since it discusses not only why there will be sex in heaven, but how it will be possible for a man to make love to, not only the most beautiful woman who ever lived, but the most beautiful woman that can theoretically exist!Tipler takes great pains to make sure that he is presenting a true scientific theory and not just some new age gobbledygook mixed in with particle physics and general relativity. To that end, he makes several testable predictions based on his theory, including a couple that might be resolved soon, the mass of the top quark and the Hubble constant. If recent calculations of the Hubble constant prove to be correct, the Omega Point Theory may have already been proven false.If you can wade through the math and physics, I highly recommend reading this book. It is a fascinating speculative look at the far flung future.

Theology is Now a Branch of Physics

A book like this (and really there is just one) is bound to pique not just a few people, and for contrary reasons depending on their viewpoint. Some here have wondered if Tipler is trying to pull one over on them and others, but one can be assured that the physicalist arguments in this book are for real: Tipler's Omega Point Theory first appeared in book-form at the end of _The Anthropic Cosmological Principle_ (1986) co-written by cosmologist John D. Barrow and Tipler, of which said book received almost universally fawning praise by the science media; and while the implications of it there were clear enough to anyone paying very close attention, Tipler did not in that book mention the resurrection mechanism or equate it with God--but infinite computation by any other name would still be as Godly. A later book to come out after _The Physics of Immortality_ which in part presents and defends Tipler's Omega Point Theory is the excellent _Fabric of Reality_ (1997) by physicist David Deutsch (inventor of the quantum computer and winner of the Institute of Physics Paul Dirac Prize for his work in the field). Thus it cannot be very well maintained that Tipler is some sort of kook or fraud--he is by no means either, and this Theory demands to be taken seriously by anyone who is serious.Some have reported that not even Tipler believes in his own Theory, and it is true that Tipler did say this in the first part of the 12th chapter of _T.P.O.I._ (and in addition stating that he was still an atheist), but this just goes to show how intellectually honest Tipler was being in presenting his Theory--other than theoretical beauty he did not at that time (1994) have any confirming experimental evidence for it--but he also stated that if the Omega Point Theory is confirmed then he shall consider himself a theist. That was seven years ago, and things have progressed since then. For one, the top quark has been found (in 1995) with the mass as predicted it would be in the Omega Point Theory. Also, Deutsch derived the Omega Point using a completely different methodology (using the Turing principle) in the 14th chapter ("The Ends of the Universe") of his book mentioned above--as a matter of fact, this chapter is available on-line at Tipler's homepage (and with Tipler's replies to it) for anyone willing to do a search for it (which I advise). But probably most convincing are the arguments on the physical restraints (e.g., the Bekenstein Bound, general relativity, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics) which seem to _require_ that the universe evolve into the Omega Point in order for some of the most basic laws of physics to be mutually consistent (such as unitarity not being violated)--of which arguments are a later development than Tipler's book, _T.P.O.I._, and so were not included in there (see the Wired article by Tipler called "From 2100 to the End of Time," which is available on-line by doing a search; see also Tipler's homepage). "I'm very encouraged by all these

A Good Book About a _POSSIBILITY_

I personally thought this was a wonderful book. However, many people on this review page have written that the book was fantastic and unbelievable. It should be mentioned that there is a lot of material in this book that, yes, does sound fantastic to a normal person. But the book is sound in the mathematics and physics it is based it - in other words, most people would find relativity and quantum mechanics weird, never mind a book that would attempt to assert on the basis of these two theories that the existence of an afterlife is a good possibility.Also, it is important to recognize that this is a theory, and like any other theory, the finer points are open to debate. If you do not mind being challenged, and are open minded, you will find this book interesting and thought provoking. However, if you pick up this book assuming that it will be an easy read, you will be severely disappointed. The author, Mr. Tipler, makes full use of his knowledge of physics, and - despite constant explanations of terminology - he will lose the less tenacious of his readers.In the end, if you're a mathematics/physics genius/savant you'll love this book. If you're a student - or at least have some background in math and physics - you'll have to work to get through the book, and may find the experience rewarding. But if you're unwilling - or unable - to try and understand the concepts Mr. Tipler puts forth you will absolutely hate this book.