Believing as I do that man in the distant future will be a far more perfect creature than he now is, it is an intolerable thought that he and all other sentient beings are doomed to complete annihilation after such long-continued slow progress. To those who fully admit the immortality of the human soul, the destruction of our world will not appear so dreadful.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Darwin finds the idea of universal extinction intolerable and suggests immortality as a solace.
- In plain terms
- If everyone eventually dies out, it is sad; believing in an immortal soul helps.
- What can you take from it?
- Belief in an afterlife can soften the fear of extinction.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does immortality make death less frightening?
- What comforts you about the future?
Another view
Speculation about souls lacks empirical proof.
More from Charles Darwin
As for a future life, every man must judge for himself between conflicting vague probabilities.
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