What if you experienced every human life in history?

Examine the ethical stance known as longtermism, which is the idea that we should be doing more to protect future generations.
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Imagine that your life began as one of the planet’s first humans. After dying, you're reincarnated as the second human ever to live. You then return as the third person, the fourth, the fifth, and so on - living the lives of every human that’s ever walked the Earth. How will your actions in one life impact your future selves? Explore the ethics of the philosophy known as longtermism.
Directed by Jay Septimo, Khoo Siew May, AIM Creative Studios.
Learn more about the long-term thinking required for humanity to thrive: ed.ted.com/everyhumanlife
This video made possible in collaboration with the Forethought Foundation
Learn more about how TED-Ed partnerships work: bit.ly/TEDEdPartners
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Igor Stavchanskiy, James R DeVries, Grace Huo, Diana Huang, Chau Hong Diem, Orlellys Torre, Corheu, Thomas Mee, Maryann H McCrory, Blas Borde, John Hellmann, Poompak Meephian, Chuck Wofford, Adam Pagan, Wes Winn, Conder Shou, ntiger, Noname, Hansan Hu, David D, Mac Hyney, Keith Ellison, robin valero walters, Lynne Truesdale, Gatsby Dkdc, Matthew Neal, Denis Chon, Julian Oberhofer, Monte Carroll, Eddy, Jay M, Constantino Victor Delgado, Andrea Galvagni, Andrew Tweddle, Laurel-Ann Rice, Fernando A. Endo, Helen Lee, pam morgan, sarim haq, Gerardo Castro, Michel-Ange Hortegat, Enes Kirimi, Amaury BISIAUX, ND, Samyogita Hardikar, Vanessa Graulich, Vandana Gunwani, Abdulmohsin Almadi, AJ Lyon and Geoffrey Bultitude.

[@lisapeesalemonsqueezah3241]

If this were true, imagine how terrifyingly isolating this is. You have only ever talked to yourself. You have only ever been hated by yourself. You have only ever been loved by yourself. Totally alone in this universe.

[@meowrkerd4rker_]

yet such is the experience of god / "the one".

[@danieljeslinek3406]

​@@meowrkerd4rker_ And not Just People. Everything IS me. Fractured whole tiny points of interest

[@davestylehenry]

I immediately thought of all the horrible deaths you'd have to go through

[@eccogenesis7198]

Maybe God was bored and or lonely existing in the void or within its self since it created the void I guess? Idk either way Maybe because of boredom or loneliness it decided to create other versions of its self to interact with almost like a kid when you make imaginary friends or maybe play with action figures or dolls. Like idk. Existing is weird

[@charlesnath1]

I don`t know, seems all right to me.

[@chingamfong]

No better way to start my Tuesday then some classic TED-ED existential crisis.

[@Bo_Mia]

Right. I just woke up about 15 minutes ago and this is how I start my day 🗿

[@futuristic.handgun]

​@@Bo_MiaHaha! Same! 😂

[@Frozennplayss]

I'm ending my day. (From the other side of the globe)

[@chad1138]

Me too mate

[@Unhinged_Salmon]

Honestly, truth bro

[@lukehick4013]

The most terrifying thing about this is you would go through every unimaginable torture that have ever been inflicted on every human to ever exist.

[@fenny4935]

Yeah and you also experienced the life that decided to torture others…

[@m.j4819]

On the contrary, you will also experience the most pleasurable and blissful moments humans have ever experienced. My question is what comes out after experiencing all there has been experienced?

[@user-xu3qd1bw2d]

On the good side you will also be the richest most powerful a couple of times.

[@somedude4432]

Yeah imagine living as Jeffery dahmer bro

[@goofyhatesu2642]

For humans, by humans

[@chulainn32]

I tripped through this entire concept over 20 years ago on a really strong hallucinogenic and the remnants of it has always stayed with me. I must say its crazy to stumble upon this video here today on a wet Monday afternoon :)

[@justinhamilton8647]

these trips are always the best, you come out a bit different on the other side

[@chulainn32]

@@justinhamilton8647 aw for sure. It was the oneness of everything. I seen it all - from my childhood to the universe. Everything was one and the same.

[@fizzy_buzz]

that must've bene terrifying, but cool at the same time...

[@ZxZNebula]

That’s me but just a year out of it lol. I believe in like an egg type theory. And also the multiverse so it’s infinite..

[@SniperHog0317]

It's a Friday for me, and dry. But maybe I already experienced that wet Monday afternoon you mentioned 5 months ago.

[@Immortal-Daiki]

Existential crisis question: If you were every person in history, does that mean you were lonely for eternity? That's mighty sad

[@cyrilio]

While at the same time being with others for eternity.

[@WILLed_into_Existence]

We are all God playing pretend. All that exists is consciousness. So by extension there is only one of us here.

[@abstract5249]

@@WILLed_into_Existence If that's the case, why am I me and you, you? Why can't I control you as I control myself?

[@WILLed_into_Existence]

@@abstract5249 I am you, and you are me. I just don't remember your life and you don't remember mine. Everything is happening now. You can only experience one life at a time. Everyone you see is you in another life.

[@itdenelll]

Definition of living in your own world.

[@Edsotto]

Man I animated this video really well, I'd also give a big shoutout to me for narrating this and another shoutout to me for starting TED to share all this wonderful information to myself

[@Paul_Bedford]

I agree with myself that I did a good job with my video.

[@aaadylan4290]

Thanks bro I appreciate it

[@Fantastic_Stranger]

@@aaadylan4290No. I appreciate it better, and I’d like to congratulate myself for appreciating it better.

[@Tururu134]

@@aaadylan4290 thanks myself i appreciate it

[@Waelly17]

Gj me, we love ourselves very much

[@annepandesal]

ever since reading "the egg" i have thought of this concept. its both comforting and horrifying. how joys and tragedies were created by me, us. we all make an impact on each other however big or small. this made me try to be more understanding, consider that that other person could be me in other circumstance, in another time and place i love this video!

[@the_nebulous_nova]

i am very late to this, but please know, the channel "kursgesagt" has an animated version

[@Raven27120]

@@the_nebulous_novayes, it does. Very good watch.

[@copbabycombo1311]

I remember watching kurzegast's (if that's how you type it) video on the egg. I find it so ever-changingly fascinating and I believe there is a lot of truth to it. But weirdly, it has only made me want to be more cruel to others/myself. lol

[@slaywithclay]

I’m so glad, I’m not the only person who’s thought about this. What terrified me most is the horrific things we’ve done to each other and how we will or have experienced this in our next or previous lives. Sure there are infinite pleasures and luxuries but with that is also the infinite tragedies, insufferable pains and mutilated existences. But another version I’ve thought about is idea we could also have lived the lives of every life form to have ever existed. Makes you wonder.

[@masoudsultani7803]

You're not the only one. I think exactly the same thing. I didn't used to. But with enough contemplation, anyone would reach the same conclusion.

[@GLUBSCHI]

Now that makes me wonder what the combined amount of time experienced by everything that has ever lived on earth would be, if you added up all of those lives what would that come out to? (After a little bit of googling i'd say the grossly overestimated, very upper bound of time that that could be is around 10^38 years)

[@wasabebo8334]

@@masoudsultani7803me too

[@MelanieMrtinezfanx12]

Omg imagine if I was a cat that would be so strange

[@trentbrown500]

@@MelanieMrtinezfanx12 Imagine if you were Shane Dawson's cat.

[@yyaahhzxc]

There is a similar short story titled "The Egg" by Andy Weir! The story follows along a conversation between you and "God" about all your past lives that you lived, reincarnating every time after you die. It's very philosophical and existential, and it's totally worth reading!

[@dawakat08]

I came down here for this!

[@harshitbalaji1019]

It is basically the Advaita philosophy of Hinduism

[@donottrustanyonelol]

Great video about that on Kurzgesagt

[@redcoat4348]

the funny thing is that Weir didnt mean for his story to be philosophical and he had very mechanical thinking going into it.

[@deleted-something]

Ye

[@yaneve_t]

This is the literal explanation of "You are the universe experiencing itself"! I've heard of this idea before, and this really defines it well. I somehow feel assured because in this way, I achieved something and learned the answer I never did in my other lives. Curiosity is killing me.

[@kiranthakur8793]

It is exactly what reality is, if there was nothing other than the universe then we really r universe experiencing itself, we r God, dust, stars, every living and non being, every particle is one , it's like a wave from sea is also sea

[@manser-5361]

This theory is very wrong for a reason.. If you will live my life later after you finish this life, then who tf am I that is living right know?..

[@manser-5361]

And another thing.. this theory is false as I said, but even if it's true you are wrong, some ancient philosophers believed in that theory so this is not your first life knowing about it

[@kiranthakur8793]

@@manser-5361 we all r the same , for example - if we take 2 buckets of water freeze them and made 2 different sculptures, now the sculptures and Ocean seems different but they are same similarly, this universe is Ocean, we r the sculptures made of the water(energy/matter) from Ocean (universe). We r just the universe experiencing itself, we r living in an illusion made by our brain and senses.

[@manser-5361]

@Kiran Thakur Actually the topic of whether the humanity is a part of the Universe that was made by the Universe itself or not, is a religious belief which is wrong in my religion.. In my religion The God created the first human(Adam) and he wasn't created by the universe to experience itself.. But I respect your opinion actually🙃

[@juf9055]

This video is so good I watched it 2.2 million times!

[@user-mo3ow4vu8d]

Underrated Comment

[@meepruns4636]

1:49 i love how this is the most rewatched part

[@icedqq]

what can i say? its just how i am.

[@alyssad990]

the way i used to believe as a kid that this was what happened after death which actually led me to take "treat others how you want to be treated" crazy seriously. . . inadvertently made me a better person lol

[@UwU-ok2jr]

ngl its a good thing to take "treat others how you want to be treated" really seriously. I think it's a healthy way to live it'd get you a lot of friends.

[@Hoshimaru57]

Scientifically speaking reincarnation makes sense according to the laws of thermodynamics. So that’s how I look at it. The cycle of atoms within our closed system says that every human alive will eventually contain a tiny part of every other human who has ever lived.

[@mollydion1240]

I feel u girl, I thought the exact same thing as a child 😅

[@orangesnowflake3769]

I thought something kinda similar but not quite the same as this

[@stanloretta92]

@@Hoshimaru57 Heck, they study children who remember past lives at the University of Virginia. Honestly, out of all afterlife scenarios, reincarnation has the most testable circumstances behind it. Even Carl Sagan thought so. Nature works in cycles, after all.

[@monsegeek]

Kurzgesagt made a video about this and it triggered one of the biggest existential crisis I've ever had.

[@BoolahBoosh]

The EGG

[@monsegeek]

@@BoolahBoosh Yes!

[@matthewwilliams7011]

YES

[@matthewwilliams7011]

I prefer that one though :')

[@kontex616]

Just for once in yo life, take a psychedelic mushroom(architect of Life) and watch THE EGG! Itll blow yo mind and feel physically CONNECTED to EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE!

[@lemonpoppyseed3169]

Well, this changes the meaning of “Treat others the way you would treat yourself.”

[@gabiausten8774]

It’s so beautiful and sad, no wonder love would be the most important in such a world, you’d be all alone, longing for nothing more than love from another being, a love u were only able to give yourself…or not.

[@LossztYT]

I hope all the versions of me enjoyed listening to this video that I animated of a concept I invented, using technology I conceived of. Wow. I’ve never felt so… appreciated!!! This is actually powerful stuff

[@Wa_llly]

Hey me!

[@sollec9279]

Can't believe I was reading my own comments the whole time.

[@Nobody-pp4vr]

I enjoy my own inventions, thanks me!!

[@jarivuorinen3878]

It's like me talking to myself

[@owsebilolyr2808]

I enjoy reading my other comments. Keep it coming

[@SearchOfSelf]

Props to the animators who worked hard and displayed their expertise in creating this astonishing animation. This kind of artistry doesn't come easy, and it's obvious that a lot of time and effort went into crafting this video. A round of applause for the animators for doing a tremendous job!

[@yaneve_t]

With my love for art and science, this is one of the best job I dream of 🥲

[@SearchOfSelf]

@@yaneve_t We both have the same dream! It is actually incredible to witness how art and science meet, enriching each other's existence. I'm wishing you lots of success on your journey and that you carry out your dreams, combining art and science along the way.

[@BurningheartofSILVER]

They took care such care to animate even the *tiniest* of details. Case and point 0:48

[@SearchOfSelf]

​@@BurningheartofSILVER That's for sure! I work hard, hoping that someday I'd make something as great! I do have some weenies in two of my videos so I'm heading the right direction, I think. 👀

[@bernardoohigginsvevo2974]

The animation looks like any PR art that a company puts out nowadays

[@purplestar188]

This is something I was always afraid of since I was a kid. I remember sitting in the dinning hall of my middle school having dinner alone after just starting my 7th grade. I wondered after I die, what if I am reincarnated again. That though of it sent chills straight up my back. The fear of having to experience all the pain of growing up again made me hope never to be reincarnated. But then I wondered if it would even matter because if I were to come to live as another person, my memory would be gone anyway. Perhaps I wouldn’t even call it “me”. It would just be someone else with a consciousness having to deal with this whole shebang again. At the same time, I thought perhaps I had already been reincarnated 1000 times and lived 1000 lives. Those past lives’ pain don’t really matter to me, as I don’t feel the weight of them. It’s not cumulative. If that’s the case, even if there is karma and karma determines if I reincarnate into a pleasurable life or suffering life, perhaps it still doesn’t matter at all-how I live this life and if I live it well or sin.

[@Tom-cl1gl]

doesnt matter if its culmulative or not, pain is still pain just in the present moment. and theres more pain objectively than pleasure so this concept is hellish to say the least.

[@gagangurung5297]

if u think samsara is absolute worse the more we reborn the more we suffer from all attachment and fear of dying again and again

[@petrospetromixos6962]

Live a good life now to experience a more amazing life later

[@AllAboutHistory76]

This is still my favorite video! It must’ve taken forever to finish between the animation, the music, and the research.

[@VRWarLab]

This was one of my irrational fears as a kid and made me feel a lot of empathy. Maybe too much sometimes. Especially for all the situations where a kid can't really do much like natural disasters.

[@ruzgar1372]

It's interesting how children can have very different ideas of life itself. When I was younger (can't remember the age) my line of thought was: I can't and will never experience this person's life so what's to say that they aren't just an empty vessel, pretending to be the sum of memories and emotions (obviously much more simplified in a kid's mind). Naturally years passed and I'd forgotten about that thought until when I first read Descartes I was reminded of my thoughts about other people's lives, that's where I'd learned about the idea of "Solipsism" It's also weird how as a young person you think you're onto a new and riveling philosophical take yet you learn that it was around centuries earlier.

[@MouhibBayounes]

​@@ruzgar1372when I was 5 years old I used to think why I am myself and not any other person

[@appl3thegr3at64]

when I was 5, I used to think that why am I here, in this body, in this planet, in this universe?

[@pageturner2958]

@@MouhibBayounes Phew, thought I was the only one

[@Kkksksjsjsjsjsjsj]

When I was a kid I would randomly have a realisation that damn, this is indeed my life and be aware of every single thing I’ve done.

[@djayjp]

Missed opportunity: to discuss empathy in this context and how that can lead to new ethical values and ways of organizing society.

[@noname6756]

Ig that's the main thing that is focused in this

[@georgeuferov1497]

It will change nothing because you don't remember your previous life

[@djayjp]

@@georgeuferov1497 Lol the video is not literal. There is no such thing as past lives, or at least certainly no good reason to believe such is true (as there's zero supporting evidence). The point being that our identity should be extended to include a global community as the birth lottery is random and we should empathize with others and the idea that harming others just means hurting ourselves ultimately. Everything affects everything else.

[@ddogthepimp]

@@djayjpempathy has nothing to do with the cosmic egg theory. so theres no point bringing it up.

[@djayjp]

@@ddogthepimp I know a fair bit about cosmology and I've never heard of the "cosmic egg theory" lol

[@Critikal4k]

Can i say that everyones expectations would be terrifying, and isolation would be your greatest symbol of peace. Beliefs of everyone would tear you apart.

[@harshnehara508]

As I am traveling right now and see countless people around I love how thinking that all of them are me makes one feel more empathetic towards them thinking that it is me who is suffering and also me who can change it. You see younger children and feel that you will be living that life one day and what actions can help make their life a little better. On the other hand you see older ones suffering and feel that you couldn't do much for them in the past which further strengthen the will to do something for the future.

[@petrospetromixos6962]

i dont think recarnation works that way, that you will live all lives in existance , just the lives this part of soul that you are needs to advance to higher plains,its conscience that reicarnates is different than the others

[@petrospetromixos6962]

I think each soul reicanrnates the amount of lifes it needs to advance to higher plains

[@TheWanderstar]

I had a VERY vivid dream about the same experience, It actually felt like I was living other people's lives

[@Bibibosh]

no you didnt. prove it. i dont believe you

[@eduardoxenofonte4004]

@@Bibibosh well if you don't want to believe in it then don't lol

[@DB-me7ol]

Even if it isn’t true it sounds like a very interesting thought! I hope I have such dreams too.

[@Bibibosh]

@@eduardoxenofonte4004 He only said it because it was relateable to the video. Probably chatGPT told him to say it or gave him the idea. hassan, im sorry if you felt insulted but i can express my freedom of speach. Is that a crime or something? people have beliefs and i have mine!

[@JJean64]

​@@Bibibosh troll

[@Klinoklaz]

I like how he describes those overwheming crazy things calmly just like he's talking about some avarage person's avarage life

[@oofi1]

cirno

[@Velorant2]

Experiencing every human life in history would be an extraordinary, if not impossible, feat. The vast diversity of experiences across time and cultures would provide unparalleled insights and perspectives, shaping a profound understanding of the human condition. However, the sheer magnitude of such a task raises questions about the feasibility and the impact on one's identity and consciousness.

[@fenny4935]

No magnitude would be felt. As with each new life, there are no recollections of the previous.

[@kingfairytale4306]

​@@fenny4935 Except in supposed casses where some individuals claim to remember either their single most previous life or multiple of their most previous lives. Though those people don't seem to have such existential questions about themselves... In fact, they seem rather dissociated with their past lives, almost as if they only really care about their current life, which is understandable.

[@sushilskolia]

I couldn’t have imagined such a best way of explaining the current situation of humanity.

[@arctrix765]

how old are you, because if you are younger, i hope, that i'll remember me

[@baconlettucepotato3726]

this makes me feel comforted, weirdly. i always worry about the future, how death is inevitable and i worry that i won't make a difference by then. this video made me realize that i've already impacted the world greatly, and will continue to impact it for a large portion of my life.

[@amiralkhafagi]

But who is the real human of consciousness

[@homelessdishrag5109]

@@amiralkhafagi everyone, I guess?

[@amiralkhafagi]

@@homelessdishrag5109 assuming this theory suggests one consciousness or entity plays the role of humanity it cant be everyone

[@ouwyukha]

​@@amiralkhafagi everyone, anyone, isone

[@amiralkhafagi]

@@ouwyukha assuming this theory suggests one consciousness or entity plays the role of humanity it cant be everyone

[@jujuoof174]

I LOVE your take on this philosophy thingy!! It's original and great!! ^^

[@jujuoof174]

I've seen this one before on Kurgezart-In A Nutshell. But you have explained it in a very different way and I love it! The drawings are cool! Gppd job!

[@AnimealPlanet]

If I ever experienced many lives, I either become a Omnipotent and omniscient being or becoming mad after experiencing many lives that make constantly make you forget who you are and what you stand, witnessing death of loved ones and everlasting loneliness and many more.

[@AnimealPlanet]

Or experiencing different kind of death and pain that will make you eventually numb... If I can experience this and survive with my sanity intact, I would bevome a god like existence.

[@mastershooter64]

I think you would lose your mind billions of times over and over again

[@gracelandtoo6240]

If you never remember anything from past lives, those experiences can't directlybaffect your current mental state. The only effect your past lives have on you is in the people that are around you, not in your memory of being them.

[@AnimealPlanet]

@@gracelandtoo6240 Of course. I just grew excited and commented after reading 1 min of the video. Now, I am watching it again.

[@RS-cf6jv]

Until the bitter End.. Until Whatever End..

[@frayansertzrave]

This is the greatest "what if" about life. Everything we read on our history makes us say today that we have to be grateful. We also love hearing the life stories and experiences of our grandparents or any older generations. ❤️

[@dv9239]

The greatest what if is what if you are living every life there is that is all the animals and insects along with plants

[@namansharma5808]

The best thing human ever created is 'knowledge exchange' and TED-ED is the finest example of it.

[@christopherramsey7027]

This is the plot of a short story called "The Egg." There's an animated/narrated version on Kurzgesagt that is definitely worth checking out.

[@petrospetromixos6962]

i see

[@pbhavana5067]

Yupp !finally there's a person who recognised😌

[@swarangiuttarkar5231]

Great way to educate people to live life with sustainable practices. As always great animation 💜💜

[@BOZ_11]

How so? This video communicated nothing; no lesson, as such. Merely 5 minutes of a whiny meandering American voice talking about our end, with zero details on what shape it takes or any preventative steps. Complete waste of time.

[@waffle8364]

Or just stop and think about how connected we really are and to be mindful of it. being sustainable is just one aspect of survival but full conscious awareness is something to really consider

[@lawrencearabia9007]

Wow, what a way to complement yourself man

[@johnjohnathan1939]

@@lawrencearabia9007 Thanks, me!

[@Jesse-fk3xc]

Or you want to end humanity to put a limit on all the lives you have to live

[@kesler4982]

I often think about the idea of how individual things represents a whole. Like how a single individual represents the human race, and subsequently life, carbon based organisms, and suddenly we are this huge conscious mass, stuck in space, always reproducing and getting larger, trying to expand, stretching it's reach. From the micro lives inside your body to the macro spectrum of the existence of living.

[@PaigeStobson]

i've actually thought of this one before! great video as always!

[@charanghae_]

the conclusion was well-executed aaaaa i love that

[@Aezra27]

From the book What We Owe The Future by William McAskill. A great read; highly recommend it!

[@skyrotechnics3245]

would recommend!

[@why_tho]

'The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity' by Toby Ord

[@rollingfire3471]

This book made me cry ngl

[@lilypad_2137]

"Be kind to yourself" brings a whole new meaning

[@Iloveterrorisim]

It’s crazy that I’ve watched this video 1.8 million times

[@Nothingwillworkk]

“Treat people how you want to be treated”

[@stanleyuchenna4606]

This video makes me appreciate life and how far we humans have come so far😊

[@Zinchidoom]

Verdade Stan Uchiha

[@wanderer37]

This video literally gave me whole different perception on incarnation 😳. Great video.

[@NocturnalCoder]

that's not the lession tho 🙄

[@honeybloom8533]

@@NocturnalCoder doesn’t mean they still can’t have a changed perception on things

[@EdwardHaren-zp6re]

Thank you to whomever posted this. I'm glad I am not alone in this suggestion of true love.

[@petrospetromixos6962]

ok

[@DorianAeolian]

And this right here is a good reason to be nice to everyone.

[@kefir-n-beetroots]

I was worrying or having panic attacks about this topic for a while. I was even scared to watch this video, because in this life I'm such a big baby... But it's, actually- very calming. And it makes me appreciate my life even more, especially the fact that I have time to have bunch of existential crisis while lots of other people are starving, fighting in wars and living thru other horrible things... eh. Live is unfair lottery.

[@Daytruin]

a lottery where you always win and always lose, at least in totality. sounds like training for a god.

[@Leron...]

Andy Weir's "The Egg" but posed as a direct question to the audience? Rad.

[@hidayetelitok9392]

I asked that question to myself for years. It would be fascinating if I remember all history, teachings, and experiences of people on Earth from year 0 to now. then I would combine that knowledge and it would be easier to create new techs because every perspective and life touch is make it more precious a job. For example, it would be nice to work together to make a computer program with a mathematician, an algorithmic, a data scientist, and an Information Analyst but it would be great if I know all their experiences and knowledge. so my work would be more stable and stable compared to the work they do. imagine that all knowledge on earth is yours. you would be the most precious thing in this world

[@prathamkataria7570]

Loved the animation style on this one

[@MedEvil1c]

Imagine that there was one person who has lived every life out there, in other words "the silent passenger" locked in to witness everything the good and the bad of humanity but never allowed to voice their conscious

[@maciejgrabowski2228]

god

[@dylanzeller9475]

Welcome to my life

[@sammieimmas289]

This is the potential truth of life (not only apply to human but also other sentient beings) that I have been thinking about for the last 5 years, and that’s why i am trying my best to be kind to other’s beings as much as I am to myself. 😃🙏

[@frankherbert3005]

I’ve often imagined that I (we) are all God… and that in order to learn and experience, we decided to experience every single life… it literally means that when we hurt others, we are hurting ourselves. Every murder we commit, we experience. For every act of unreciprocated kindness, we experience the benefit. It’s an interesting meditation, I always assumed someone else already considered that someone else already thought of this, so it’s a relief to see this video!

[@HarreywithanE]

I have thought of this what-if when i was a kid, it makes so much sense now.

[@calamitaleb247]

Oh my days... this has literally been a philosophy theory I have had in my head for years... and I thought I was the only one. From as early as I can remember I considered that I won't see what's next until I have lived every life from every perspective. Imagine.... living all of these lives simultaneously.

[@sealbeegle9785]

look up The Egg, by Kurzgesagt. It's this, animated differently, and explained in another way.

[@channelname9897]

What if your other life made this video? 🤔

[@maniacobra8103]

I also have a theory very close to that, quite impressive to notice that many people think the same way too

[@cherpsy3770]

damn so if it’s true i’m talking to myself

[@vyxinia]

sorry I don't quite get this theory. If you're the only person who's ever existed, and you can only reincarnate as the next human by dying, how would there be multiple people all at once? How would you exist at the same time as I?

[@perceivedvelocity9914]

I've read a story that uses this concept. It's a interesting thought experiment. The one thing that is not considered in the story that I read or in this video is that we are no different than our ancestors. We have not significantly evolved since our ancestors were hunter gatherers. We were born into a world that has developed interesting technology over time. Our species and our survival instincts have not changed.

[@cru3her608]

but our moral compas has improved immensely

[@dangerfly]

@@cru3her608 Our moral advancement hasn't matched our technological advancement at all. Nearly every action we take has a moral component yet our scientific understanding of ethics is abysmal. We're confidently inept.

[@cru3her608]

@@dangerfly but our behavior and instincts are far more moral then ever

[@penguinspenguins2376]

What is the story called?

[@karan_jain]

@@penguinspenguins2376 The Egg

[@unnamedweirdo3804]

If you really start thinking about it, this theory could go so much further. Imagine if you were to live every life ever lived. Every human, mammal, insect, plant, fungus, and bacteria. It really is a rabbit hole of thoughts, imagining that this is true.

[@user-de2pz4mx4d]

People who trip on dmt report experiences of past lives and its the chemical that also releases in our brain when we die. Not saying I support drugs or anything but what if certain phycodelics like dmt are opening up the memories of past lives? What if there was a drug so strong that it opened up all the memories of every life to one person? they would become that of a god if they inhabited everything that was to ever be experienced. Maybe then the universe would implode upon this major convergence of consciousness creating another big bang restarting the cycle of time for an eternity. Im just rambling here honestly but its a fun thought to play with.

[@AshuSharma-fk2cq]

Whoa i used to same this in my high school, never felt better seeing the idea again

[@prakash_77]

No words to describe how beautiful this video, the illustrations, animations and the ideas depicted in this video are. Just mind-blowing

[@OmicronGaming]

This could be why some people with near-death experiences feel themselves in someone else's shoes, someone that they did something to that they regret. Perhaps it was themselves in another life experience.

[@Volxzor]

hello omicron

[@casesater]

hello omicron

[@Robert_Byland]

This vibes so real! I suspect this might be the source of our dreams.

[@thebruckler3707]

It'd be wild to be born as 1 twin, and then hundreds maybe thousands of years later you finally get to be the other twin

[@aekiyria_]

you effectively wait thousands of years to be the strawberry flavored version of yourself🗿🗿🗿

[@AlgerianRatt]

This was like the most incredible video I've seen in a very long time. Amazing message, great animation, and, overall, insane. Thanks, TED-Ed!

[@linaali6792]

I am from Syria and I am 21 and already experienced every possible thing you can imagine so I could relate to this video because I noticed that after I moved to Europe, I appreciate every single detail of life and try my best to leave a good impact on earth and nature ❤

[@sarabasha4408]

I don't usually reply to strangers' comments on the internet, but I just wanted to wish you a life full of happiness. I'm glad you're somewhere safe now.

[@mharis8726]

@@sarabasha4408 You don't need to move to Europe to appreciate life. All you need is a appreciating heart. And the thing you said about leaving a positive impact does not actually mean anything, rather it's an attempt to satisfy your heart from all those questions you cant answer. This video breaks down as "dont worry about anything keep living the life of bots and do not think too much. And above all trust 'Science' ."

[@RAMBO14001]

حليكي قوية اختاه

[@adamalmalki7903]

then u must watch the movie : "the swimmers"

[@bellezavudd]

@@mharis8726 Apparently you didn't watch the last minute of the video. Its clear that scientific creations can be disasturous.

[@polisp2]

I was thinking deeply about this for the past two days. I'm starting to think our thoughts are being deciphered

[@zenonpinezka]

I had this vision in a deep meditative state, fear came and stopped meditation that time, trying not to think about it so often. This is difficult knowledge.

[@Rosie-ij3on]

what an interesting concept. My initial thought was how awful that would be knowing what immense suffering many people have gone through and continue to go through in their lives. Reminds me how unbelievably lucky I am to have the life I have 💝

[@Jesse-fk3xc]

An unfathomable amount of pain and suffering waits us if it’s true

[@atmega16a5]

@@Jesse-fk3xc The same amount of joy, pleasure and love awaits us. Maybe even more. And what do you eman "if it is true" it is a thought experiment, we will never know what is the meaning and truth of existence. Just try to do better, take care of yourself and others. STAY HYDRATED THIS IS A THREAT.

[@solsystem1342]

​@@Jesse-fk3xc and we (as in humanity) have the ability to reduce it

[@hibye4469]

Is muslims actually believe in something similar to this. Basically after everyone dies and we’re at the day of judge,ent where it gets decided weather you go to heaven or not, everyone who ever lived takes a look at ever single persons life and how they lived how they died who they were and what they did. This is basically to teach you that what ever you do now, will never be hidden and to try to make your life as good as possible. And by the way during this we believe that you won’t feel sadness, embarrassment, hate, love, or any other basic human emotion and time will feel much quicker you won’t feel how long or how short it was.

[@tqit0210]

I sometimes find myself wondering about this possibility, and tend to internalize it. I think it truly helps me maintain a constant empathy, and helps me see others as equivalent to myself. This mentality certainly makes it easier to follow the Golden Rule. Most importantly, though, I find it keeps me appreciative of the successes of others and myself, as well as keeping me mindful of my own failures and the history/mistakes that I should avoid repeating.

[@NeedMorePlebs]

Except all the lives you live where you are a serial killer and murderer.

[@ved955]

what golden rule?

[@kingfairytale4306]

​@@ved955 The Golden Rule is essentially, "treat others how you want to be treated". Basically, if you want to be treated like a King/Queen, you should treat others as such. This works in the opposite sense aswell.

[@JadeLwoj]

I think I remember a Tumblr story from a long time ago about this concept. It was beautifully written and I ended up crying about it. About how you are every life and every life was you. How you treated everyone and how they treated you was just...how you treated yourself. And the end, the cumulative experiences and lives and emotions create a being that is God.

[@Lance0]

google Andy Weir's "The Egg"

[@SuperSonic-9999]

Tha sounds like abunch of baloney

[@braven_]

I've had many thoughts about this since I was a kid.

[@Pendragon667]

Be it Ted, Infographics or Kurzgesagt: i just love those short, informative, animated videos. While they share the same problem - trying to find a compromise of being both entertaining and informative - i just think they are indeed one of the better things that came out of KZbin.

[@user-qe6lk9ul2x]

Agree with you 100%

[@vishnupriya.k.p.]

It's so amazing how we have more impact than how much our older generations had

[@Mansory811]

What let you think you have more impact than your grandfather?

[@gabrielsantosbastos5257]

@@Mansory811 i think it's a joke

[@Mansory811]

​@@gabrielsantosbastos5257 if it is, in what way would that be funny tho?

[@gabrielsantosbastos5257]

@@Mansory811 sarcasm

[@zrozadxz]

@@gabrielsantosbastos5257 its noy funny lol

[@yeoldbeaverboi9558]

This is it. I finally found my favorite Ted-Ed video.

[@WitchyyChick]

I've watched this video almost 2 million times.

[@YamYugi]

I wish everyone in the planet could watch this , this was truly amazing, thank you

[@ShatabdaRoy115]

hehe pity those us.

[@AegisAuras]

When you get into the more philosophical and spiritual communities, all consciousness is understood as one entity merely pretending to be separated in order to learn from the experience. I am the one writing this comment and all those reading it as well, but my consciousness is spread across multiple forms simultaneously. We are all humanity and have/will experience every event of every life. Eventually, at higher states of consciousness/evolution, all the memories of those lives will be available to us, all the knowledge of humanity and more in one entity. Evolution continues beyond that point as well.

[@izzyzzty6769]

Going through life at some point in time we all experience the same thing

[@That_sand_guy]

Hello to all the other me’s out there! Hope we are all having a great day.

[@solalee4693]

You-er, me too

[@athulmohan1831]

What a precise and deep animation work! The artist deserves a hike.

[@artrip]

This reminded me of the video from Kurzgesagt called the egg. I really love this concept thank you for sharing this ❤

[@thedeepermystery]

It's based on the short story by andy weir, great stuff 🙂

[@artrip]

@@thedeepermystery wow I did not know that. Thanks for sharing 🥰

[@pablobogopablogames2270]

this can explain why i have certain tastes for thing way before my generation and feel nostalgic with thing i didnt even experience

[@0ptimal]

Fascinating thought. But what better way to gain perspective. And what if its not just human life, but to know life from all perspectives imaginable.

[@TauandPi]

As soon as I saw the title, the first thing that came to my mind was the book 'What we owe the future' by William MacAskill and the video was indeed about that. Great book, definitely worth reading

[@MishelFayad]

It's a very nice, unifying philisophy actually. To see humanity as one person ❤

[@TheInvisibleMan420]

Great stuff as always.

[@palestallion_tm]

It's not my Ted talk but thank you for coming

[@amdma2003]

I've been looking for a video like for for years! A brief timeline of human history and our achievements, discoveries, and hardships. Would like to find a longer and more thorough version. Disappointed to realize I'll be living an ordinary life 😞

[@yathavadi]

What a tragedy. I would be in excruciating pain if I could recall everything from my prior life. Why am I compelled to live a life that will end so soon? But thankfully, I have amenesia. 🙃

[@ProfessionalCurryDefender]

Imagine how many excruciatingly painful lives you would have to live.

[@Rohan_553]

The egg theory.

[@cosmicfails2053]

This reminds me of a conversation I had with my father about determinism Basically we were discussing whether or not our actions are of our own choices, whether or not we have control over our own lives etc And I more or less said that, we don't. Or rather, *We* dont have control over *our* own lives. But rather, we have control over the lives of other, which in turn means that others have control over our lives. Our actions may be the results of the actions of others, but in turn, our actions can influence the actions of others, and while we may be narrowed down to only few choices and options, its those small shifts we make that can change our own lives by changing other peoples lives, who in turn, change ours.

[@86Miguelisimo]

Like the butterfly effect

[@harasen_haras5]

This is fascinating to think about. And if we think of the world like this we've got a whole new way of looking at ethics. Even someone who only cared about themself would have a reason to take other people's experiences into account.

[@zelowatch30]

Are you nuts? This is the scariest thing one can imagine, you must be a bot

[@Wilfoe]

Certainly an interesting take. It leaves me with the impression that we are truly blessed to be alive today.

[@-LoneWolf-]

If this was true, you’ve built every city in existence.

[@nerdlingeeksly5192]

Now imagine if you could remember everything.

[@marcantiojo7703]

You either become god or go insane

[@bigboibebop]

This mindset would do a lot to help people stuck in the selfish mindset that “only their lives matter”. if you got them thinking “well, maybe *all lives* could be you’re lives. You wouldn’t want to screw up the rest of them, would you?” They’d probably change their tune.

[@hongsonnguyen8204]

But if you keep it to your self to alway being nice, you would end up depressing

[@adamhaney1048]

@@hongsonnguyen8204why would u always be nice if it makes u depressed tho

[@chunyinauyeung6148]

This idea is similar to the movie Cloud Atlas. If you are fascinated by this video I would recommend you watching that movie. The rating and reviews simply didn't do justice to such a fascinated and beautiful film !! And great video as usual by TED-Ed !!

[@josephwinkle525]

its crazy this is a topic because when I was a kid in elementary school I also started thinking about this. I was thinking in a broader scope though as in every life in general from the smallest ant to the biggest elephant.

[@jasminb7317]

I was thinking about that as a child, how long would it take to have lived every single (human) life that has ever existed. And how long would it talk to know everything and master all traits.

[@alexmartian3972]

I'm almost sure you don't know what you ate a year ago. Same as you don't know what some (other?) king ate at some point. But that you ate effected your life and lead to this moment, also what that king ate effected the world and subsequently your life. So what's the difference?

[@johnparla6252]

We have exspirenst everything for aternity and aternity will never end 👍