X-Message-Number: 25411
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 08:41:13 -0500
From: Francois <>
Subject: To Robert Ettinger, Twin experiment

>If two or more copies or "instantiations" are sufficiently alike--no
matter
>how they got that way!--then it is trivially true that they will think  and
>feel alike, hence could not make any distinction by introspection, and if
>location doesn't matter they would be interchangeable from the point of
view of  an
>outside party.

>But that is not the issue!

I think this is precisely the issue. A sense of self and identity is a
purely subjective thing. It's objective measurable counterpart is the
specific brain structure that manifests it. There is currently only one
instantiation of that stucture in the world, the one in my head. Therefore,
"I" exist in only one location. Since a structure of matter is indifferent
to the specific atoms used to build it, it can exist, or be instantiated in
more than one location. If ever a sufficiently precise copy on my brain is
made in the future, then "I" will also exists at that other location. An
outside party can only judge the success or failure of the procedure by
observing and comparing the workings of the two brains. I and my copy could
do the same and add to it our own subjective perception of our sense of
identity. We could only conclude that we are two instantiations of the same
person. We have person 1 from conception to the moment of duplication, the
we have person 1a and 1b going on their separate ways. Obviously, if person
1a is killed, it will not survive in person 1b, and vice versa. However,
person 1 survives in both and the sense of self that calls itself "Francois"
exists in both because it's a subjective thing that emerges from the
workings of a specific brain structure that exists in both persons. For this
to happen, the copy must closely match the orignal. How closely? I suppose a
rigorous atom for atom copying procedure would be overkill, but a closely
matched twin would be insufficient. Future technology and research will
provide the answer to that.

Francois
The Devil fears those who learn more
than those who pray

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