X-Message-Number: 8897
Date: Fri, 05 Dec 1997 10:26:51 +0100
From: John de Rivaz <>
Subject: Re: Backups

In article: <>  
writes:
> Subject: Backups
> 
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> 
> On Tue, 02 Dec 1997 John de Rivaz <> Wrote:
> 
>         >You have a backup made, and then you are told that you are to be 
        
>         >painlessly exterminated, but don't worry, the backup will then be 
        
>         >activated. How do you feel about it?
>                               
> 
> It doesen't matter. I've never been in that situation so I'm not sure how 
I'd 
> feel about it, but one thing is certain, whatever my emotions, my 
"backup", 
> if he's worthy of the name, would have been told the exact same thing and 
be 
> feeling the exact same way.

Read it again, and note the *then*. The backup does not know about the 
extermination. That is the point - the backup does not have all the 
experiences of original that is exterminated, unless the backup and 
extermination are simultaneous.


I am not saying that I would not backup if the option were available - I 
certainly would. However I could not be totally convinced that reanimating 
backups is producing survival.


Consider this: Sacher von Masoch had sexually related fantasies about being 
beheaded. Suppose he decided to experience this, and had a backup made before 
the act so as to avoid the fatal consequence. He could go on 
repeating this for all eternity, but could never recall the experience.

-- 
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