Lincarnation

Lincarnation is a neologism used primarily in speculative fiction and some strands of contemporary philosophy to describe a form of incarnation that proceeds along a defined line or network of carriers, rather than through cyclical rebirth. The term combines a sense of linkage or linear succession with the idea of incarnation, signaling continuity across a sequence of embodiments or persistent avatars.

There is no established etymology in mainstream scholarship, and lincarnation is not part of traditional religious or philosophical vocabulary. It is mostly encountered in fictional or theoretical contexts where consciousness or identity can endure beyond a single body or vessel. In these uses, lincarnation contrasts with classical notions of reincarnation by emphasizing a linear or genealogical chain of continuities rather than a repeating cycle.

Mechanisms proposed for lincarnation vary. In some narratives, identity endures through memory transfer, genetic lineage, or persistent digital records that preserve core traits, memories, or preferences. In others, a governing body or chosen lineage maintains responsibility for selecting successive vessels, with the sense of self carried forward along the line through documented or contractually defined continuity. The emphasis is typically on accountability, moral development, or the evolution of identity across generations or platforms.

Scholarly and literary discussions of lincarnation raise questions about personal identity, responsibility across generations, and the ethical implications of influencing or preserving a line of consciousness. Critics note that, as a speculative construct, lincarnation rests on controversial assumptions about memory, agency, and what counts as the same person through time.

See also: reincarnation, metempsychosis, digital immortality, memory transfer, personal identity.