X-Message-Number: 25471
Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2005 15:47:23 -0800
From: Mathew Sullivan <>
Subject: Multiple copies of the mind need not diverge

Mike Perry wrote in message #25463:

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So, applying this thinking, I can see a resolution to the "multiple brains" 
problem above (whether it happens to be acceptable to others or not). If we 
generated different copies of me, each with memories faithfully encoded, 
then all would equally feel they *were* the past individual, and the 
logical contradiction that would occur if all said they *are* the past 
individual could be avoided. The copies would diverge with time (probably 
very quickly in fact) and become quite different individuals, yet could 
still claim, without contradiction, that, so far as their memories and such 
are concerned, they once *were* one and the same individual, even though 
they now are not the same as each other. In short we would have a 
fissioning of one individual into more than one (as I've said before).

<clip>

I'm in agreement with you Mike that multiple copies will diverge, provided 
they are not connected in anyway.  I believe divergence can be reduced and 
possibly eliminated with the free flow of knowledge and experience between 
copies.  If each copy of our mind is hooked up to a wireless network, each 
mind represents a collection of all minds.  Enhanced with future 
technology, we can have both multiple bodies in a physical and virtual 
form.  The virtual world becomes an upgrade or replacement of our 
imagination.  Divergence is an issue when spread out over distance using 
traditional technology as a means of communication, but the mastery of 
quantum mechanics might eliminate divergence altogether.  The ultimate 
result or goal for me would be to have a single mind spread out over many 
bodies to the point that one or more copies are expendable.

Mathew Sullivan

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