X-Message-Number: 16104
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 02:28:58 -0700
From: Lee Corbin <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #16092 - #16103

Jon Masters writes in Message #16094

>This is the second question [whether you should choose
>self disintegration and allow your duplicate to wake and
>get the money] I find myself asking continously at the
>moment (the first being a combination of why I am here/how
>and why the Universe is here) - the meaning of self.

>In your example, I would probably choose (a) for two reasons:
>
>* the duplicate may not also be me, however by having two simultaneous
>  copies of myself I can answer the meaning of self, and this is far
>  more important to me than any amount of money you care to mention.

Oh!  You do not have the option in this thought experiment of
getting to talk to your duplicate, or in any way having both
survive.  Yes, I'd certainly opt for that if I could.

>* the moment I was copied I continued to live and thus the "me" entering
>  the chamber with the frozen copy is not the duplicate of the body
>  of the iceman.

Well, it certainly **feels** as though you are not the same
person.  But what is the evidence?  I think after some people
get uploaded, they'll get used to the idea of having duplicates
(say one on each planet of the solar system), and gradually it
won't seem much different than having future and past selves.

>Now the question I find all of this relating to is one
>of religion. I recently decided that I must logically be
>a total atheist because I find it impossible to believe
>religious arguments about self and one's "soul".

You may be interested in my essay "Continuity: The Last Refuge
of the Soul" at http://www.leecorbin.com/LastRefuge.html
where I also note the relationship of self and "soul".

>If anyone solves the meaning of self then I believe they will have also
>answered the meaning of life and I will owe them a drink :)

Alas, it's probably tied into the problem of consciousness,
and it's not clear there even is an answer.  Steven Pinker,
for example, says there's not and we should give up.

>Reminds me that I need to sort out an Alcor membership

>soon, no good putting that off even though statistically
>I have 55 years left.

Lucky you.  But it would be unwise to delay signing up
any longer!  Your luck may change.

Lee Corbin

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