The Greatest Enemy

Sentience that desires its own destruction can never last long in this universe, for, as soon as it acquires the means, it ends its own existence. Therefore, as a general rule, sentience desires its own continual existence. Non-sentience has no desires, as it is non-sentient (gotta love the tautologies). Thus, when a non-sentient entity comes up against (i.e. becomes mutually exclusive with) a sentient entity, all morality and preferred outcomes lie with the latter.

It is for this reason that I wish to see sentience spread across the universe; from our launching point on a blue water planet orbiting Sol in the Milky Way, and from our other probable launching points throughout space and time, the goal is the projection and preservation of sentience throughout space and time. Even if individual sources are snuffed (like Earth would be in the event of a major nuclear showdown), given the enormity of the universe and the possibility of new wellsprings, sentience should eventually spread to every habitable corner and preserve itself there.

What stands in the way of the progress and growth of sentience throughout the universe? What is it that will, inevitably as it seems now, end the dream of everlasting life?

Our Great Enemy is what seems like a harmless physical construct - but one that stands ready to destroy any civilization no matter how strong and advanced and widespread.

The enemy is Entropy. Should entropy prevail over the universe, there will be no more energy, no more sentience, no more order in the chaos. To prevent this is the ultimate goal of science: the victory of sentience over entropy, of life over death. This is why science and free thought cannot, MUST NOT be hindered. The rewards of success are infinite, as are the consequences of failure. If there is the slightest chance of success, we must attack the problem with all the energy we possess.

Perhaps Entropy is unbeatable, a law with no exceptions. Perhaps all the time and effort will not pay off with infinite sentience and civilization. But, perhaps sentience can find a cure. Hell, perhaps sentience IS the cure (this is not as dumb as it sounds). And then we will not need to look to other lives for our eternal rewards that we crave. We'll have truly earned it - in this life.