We live in a universe where entropy and chaos seem destined to increase, with matter becoming colder and more distributed, and objects and systems ultimately being destroyed in the inevitable course of time. We are repeatedly taught by ancient wisdom that nothing lasts forever.

In this universe it occurs to me that life is the thing that tries to overcome or otherwise escape this inevitability. Living creatures try to prolong their lifespan and ensure the continuation of their bloodline or species through reproduction, fight or flight, consuming resources, and evolutionary adaptation. As some species, races, or civilisations achieve increasing success in this regard, perhaps by extension life may wish to also evolve its ambitions. Why just aim for prolonging personal existence or that of offspring or future generations, or even an entire race, or planetary habitat? Perhaps through the evolution of a species towards understanding the nature and mechanics of the universe, it may become feasible to actually increase the lifespan of the universe itself, prevent it’s death altogether, or to migrate between universes if that transpires to become the only option.

The adversarial relationship between the inevitable destruction of all things and the existence of life with its innate desire to survive is comforting, in a way. The apparent futility of this desire and all supporting endeavours can be depressing. Individually, we can choose to either accept this inevitability as fact, or to resist against it. Acceptance can lead to peace and a reduction in immediate suffering from anxiety. But is it the only option?

Our own personal demise is the most inevitable outcome, as is that of the next several n generations. The saddest thought can become that, whether we witness it or not, our ancestors, which we would love if we met them, are doomed to painful mass destruction in some future event. The thought that might help with this sadness, is the desire I speak of: for life to find a way to survive. The ultimate test of this must be to survive the destruction of our environment, our atmosphere, our planet, moon, sun, solar system, galaxy, and universe.

We’ve certainly got plenty of time to work on this challenge, provided we don’t self-annihilate in the next 50 years.