X-Message-Number: 16101
From: "George Smith" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #16086 - #16091
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 11:41:00 -0700

Lee Corbin wrote in message 16086:

"Suppose that you are taken into the next room where a
frozen duplicate of you, made five minutes ago, lies
encased in ice.  There is a briefcase on top the ice
cask containing ten million dollars, and you may either
(a) choose to have your duplicate and the money be
disintegrated, or (b) choose to be disintegrated
yourself.  If you select the latter, then the duplicate
is defrosted and gets to deposit the money.

"The question is, given that you are to make the most
self-interested decision you can, for the benefit of
the person you consider yourself to be, would you choose
(a) or (b)?"

Here is my answer.

"No matter where you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

The sense of "self" situates itself in an infinitely receding point behind
your eyes and between your ears.  Self looks out at the world coming from a
point in space.

Dual consciousness (which I have experienced) is the sense of coming from 2
points at the same time.

Multiple consciousness (which I have not experienced) is the sense of coming
from 3 or more points at the same time.

The issue in my opinion is can you move "you" from point to point through
time and/or space.

Waking up tomorrow in bed seems to be a pretty good example of "self
shutdown" followed by the point of self returning in time.  However there is
the continuity of a complete physical central nervous system (my physical
body) which lies down in my bed tonight.

When I stand looking at the frozen body with the $1million there is a
discontinuity of the same central nervous system.  I would not choose
dsiintegration.

IF, however, I had the experience of MOVING my "point of self" from my
current body INTO another body, back and forth many times, such that I had
the personal EXPERIENCE of self continuity, I WOULD choose disintegration.

It is this issue of experience that makes all the difference.  To choose
disintegration without the personal knowledge of knowing I could MOVE from
body to body, would be an act of faith based on logic.  I would be HOPING I
wasn't wrong in my conclusions.

The frozen duplicate of me, when resurrected would have the absolute sense
of MOVING or REAWAKENING after choosing disintegration.  That would prove
nothing other than the fact that two CDs of the same music sound the same.

That's how I see it.

George Smith

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