Rebirth Revisited
Remembrance of Past Lives?
I’m a Secular Buddhist, which means that I take an agnostic approach to non-verifiable doctrines like karma and rebirth. I do, however, believe in the naturalist rebirth doctrine of “generic subjective continuity” or “existential passage.” Within this framework, personal identity ends with “complete mortality,” as all the memories and features that constitute individual identity end with the dissolution of the body. Yet, I recently learned that butterflies that have undergone “complete metamorphosis” appear to retain memories from their previous stage of life. Complete metamorphosis entails, as far as we know, the complete dissolution of the neural framework upon which memory depends. Nevertheless, certain learned responses from the caterpillar stage appear to be present in the butterfly, suggesting that perhaps there is some non-physical mechanism for memory. If it is possible for the butterfly that has undergone complete metamorphosis to remember its past life, is it not then possible (in theory) for recollection of past lives in general to be a thing?
Secular Buddhism and Naturalist Rebirth
Secular Buddhism integrates Buddhist ethics and practices while maintaining an agnostic view on unverifiable doctrines like karma and metaphysical rebirth. Instead, a Secular Buddhist might adhere to metaphysical naturalism and explore “generic subjective continuity” (GSC) or “existential passage,” (EP) concepts akin to naturalist rebirth. These frameworks reject the idea of a persisting self and posit that personal identity dissolves entirely upon death, aligning with what Wayne Stewart describes as “complete mortality” — a cessation of individual memories and identity, but not the end of subjective experience in some abstract sense​.
The Butterfly’s Journey: Complete Metamorphosis
Holometabolism, or complete metamorphosis, is a profound biological transformation involving distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. During pupation, the larva’s body, including its neural framework, largely breaks down into a “soup” of reorganized cells. This dramatic restructuring creates a radically different adult organism​​.
Remarkably, despite this neural dissolution, studies reveal that some memories persist. Tobacco hornworm caterpillars, trained to associate a smell with discomfort, showed similar aversions as adult moths​​. This discovery challenges the assumption that memories cannot survive the physical breakdown of the nervous system, suggesting that some neural structures may be preserved or reconstituted or, perhaps, that there is some non-physical mechanism for storing memories.
A Non-Physical Mechanism for Memory?
If memories can survive such extensive physiological changes, it raises intriguing questions. Does this imply a non-physical mechanism for memory retention? While the exact biological processes remain speculative, the persistence of memory across metamorphosis suggests a complex interplay between biological structure and functional reorganization. This opens the door to broader philosophical inquiries about memory and continuity beyond death.
Implications for Rebirth
If caterpillars can retain memories through such radical transformations, might humans or other beings experience some form of memory persistence beyond death? Secular Buddhism’s focus on naturalist frameworks invites us to consider this as a theoretical possibility. While no empirical evidence supports metaphysical rebirth, the butterfly’s journey hints at potential mechanisms for memory that could, in theory, transcend physical dissolution.
Mystical and Naturalist Convergences
Mysticism, particularly when viewed through a naturalist lens, seeks unity and continuity in existence. The phenomenon of memory survival in metamorphosis aligns with the mystical insight of interconnectedness, challenging rigid dichotomies between life and death. By grounding mystical exploration in scientific phenomena, we gain tools to reimagine concepts like rebirth as natural rather than supernatural.
In conclusion, the butterfly’s remarkable memory survival offers a metaphorical bridge between biological insights and philosophical reflections on continuity. While it doesn’t prove past-life recollection, it invites us to reconsider the boundaries of memory, identity, and existence in both scientific and mystical terms and to remain open to the genuine possibilities.
