X-Message-Number: 25027
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2004 06:06:42 -0800
Subject: More Mind Uploading to Thomas
From: <>

Dear Thomas:

[snip]

You wrote:

"The very first thing I'd say about your brain and my brain is that
just like our bodies the molecules making up our brains go through
constant turnover. In that sense neither of us retains the same 
brain for very long. So just what must be preserved given this
constant change?"

I noted this is my original message. What ensures personal survival 

on a day-to-day basis is the fact that, despite the constant change 

in our brains, at least this thing remains constant: at every 
instant in time, our brain has a soul (a thing capable of 
experiencing qualia).

Therefore, I consider it perfectly reasonable to upgrade or enhance 

the brain, even replace it entirely, as long as such change is done 

gradually, such that the above criterion is met.

You wrote:

"(If we were computers, such turnover would not happen. One of many 

faults to the computer metaphor for our brains)."

I agree the computer is a bad metaphor. But since people insist on 
it (especially mind uploaders, for obvious reasons), I like to the 
clarify that the brain is more like a CPU than software.

[snip]

"So what is it about a 'soul' that makes it irreproducible?"

Sure, you can duplicate the soul. The resulting duplicate is not 
the same, however. A duplicate of your soul has its own subjective 
inner life---which may be all well and good for it, but it is 
irrelevant to your own personal survival.

[snip]

You wrote:

"So our souls must somehow continue to exist despite turnover of 
the molecules making them up.... which essentially means that they 
ought to be reproducible."

Our souls continue to exist because, at each point in time, we 
still have them. It's really a tautology. The soul is not defined 
in terms of a specific combination of atoms or molecules, but 
rather, as the part of me that experiences qualia. My soul exists 
for as long as this part of me exists. 

You can copy this part, but it is not the same part. It is a copy 
of the part. A copy of my soul is useless, from the point of view 
of my personal survival.

Best Regards,

Richard B. R. 

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