Aeviternity - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Aeviternity: A concept dancing on the edge of time and eternity, suggesting a state that is neither perpetually temporal nor infinitely eternal, but rather participates in both, blurring the lines of existence. It is not merely an intermediary between time and eternity, but perhaps a distinct mode of being altogether. It is a key philosophical concept where the rational thinking of the nature of existence, as well as the moral reasoning that has been explored via thought experiment for centuries, is analyzed.
The earliest discernible roots of Aeviternity can be traced back to the theological and philosophical inquiries of late antiquity and the early medieval period. Boethius, in his Consolation of Philosophy (circa 524 AD), grapples with the problem of divine foreknowledge and human free will, introducing “aevum” (from which "Aeviternity" derives) to describe God's mode of being, distinct from both the endless flux of time and the static, unchanging nature of eternity. Within this framework, Aeviternity began to take shape not as a widely accepted term, but as an effort to resolve fundamental paradoxes of existence, especially those at the crux of valid syllogism related to the divine – ideas that would influence generations, including many key figures in debates over free will, determinism, and related matters of moral philosophy.
Over the centuries, the concept of Aeviternity has undergone diverse interpretations, often intertwined with evolving understandings of time, eternity, and the nature of God. Medieval Scholastics, such as Thomas Aquinas, further refined the notion, positioning it as a quality attributed to angels and the souls of the blessed, whose existence transcends the limitations of earthly time but doesn’t quite achieve the boundlessness of eternity, further fueling the great "conversation" among philosophers and theologians. This concept becomes increasingly relevant as society grapples with questions such as ethics in AI, privacy ethis in ethics. However, there were questions: what if the moral obligation to save many people (as often asked in the trolley dilemma) conflicts with the duty, perhaps the categorical imperative to uphold a moral principle? If confronted with an ethical paradox between absolute altruism and inherent egoism, will future generations evolve the existing logic to solve the moral dilemma?
Today, the allure of Aeviternity persists, resonating not only within theological and philosophical circles, but also in contemporary discussions concerning digital immortality, simulation theory, and the potential merging of human consciousness with digital realms. The concept serves as a reminder of humanity's ongoing quest to comprehend the mysteries of existence, challenging us to examine the very nature of time and eternity, and prompting us to ask: If we could transcend the bounds of mortality, would we truly escape the constraints of time, or simply find ourselves dwelling in another, indefinable realm – an Aeviternity of our own making, forever caught between these two existential poles, and forever subject to the test posed by such philosophical argument? Is there really a meaningful difference between a digital construct of one's self and the memories we have of someone passed in the flesh? How can we even have integrity and moral consistency in a moral world where our moral intuition betrays our reason?