X-Message-Number: 25268 Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2004 07:06:30 -0800 Subject: Scientific Resolution to Ben Best's Duplicates Paradox From: <> Given the current topic of conversation, I thought it would be useful to post my scientific resolution to Ben Best's duplicates paradox. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just ignore this message (or type these keywords into Google, if you are really curious). Ben says it looks like we have to trust people when they claim to be the same person. I say, not necessarily. To illustrate this in a way that resolves Ben's paradox, consider the following thought experiment: Have a camera crew follow a person around from birth until age 50. The camera will be trained on the individual at all times, and the film archived for later reference. Then, when the individual reaches age 50, duplicate that individual, with a separate camera crew recording the duplication and subsequently following the duplicate around. We then ask both the original and the duplicate the following question: 'Are you the same person you were before duplication?' to which they will both reply, 'Yes, of course.' Now here is where Ben would say, we just have to accept what they say at face value. I say NO, we do not, and should not. Why? Simply because we can ask both original and duplicate other questions, such as, 'Did you marry such and such a person when you were 26?' to which they will both reply, 'Yes, of course.' However, we have scientific evidence that the original married, since we have recorded that event on video tape; but we have no evidence, indeed, we know for a fact that the duplicate did not marry, since he came into existence but a few days or hours ago. In like fashion, we can proceed through all the major facts of the life of the individual, asking him to confirm each one. In every case, the duplicate speaks only falsehood---he falsely believes he has lived through the events of the original. Therefore, if every statement regarding life history coming out of the mouth of the duplicate is VERIFIABLY FALSE, using the scientific evidence of our video tapes, then why would we ever believe his answer to the question, 'Are you the same person you were before duplication?' The correct answer: we should believe no such thing. The duplicate did not engage in any of the activities of the original, despite false claims to the contrary, and the duplicate is not the same person as the original---again, despite false claims to the contrary. Thus the paradox is resolved in scientific fashion. Best Regards, Richard B. R. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=25268