[extropy-chat] Agency as Prime Determinant of Personal Identity

[Heartland]

Robert,

My previous post was supposed to serve as my final statement in this debate, but 
since
you've shown interest in my challenge let me add few more words.

Robert:
> It never hurts to reexamine these things in light of progress in
> genetics, neuroscience, preservation methods, etc. but I'm not sure I see
> that being done here.

Some views need to be reexamined simply because their logic is flawed. That is what
this challenge is designed to expose.

Robert:
> I looked at the message cited above and didn't see anything there making it
> clear to me what "life" is.  I also realize that there there are people who
> believe it to be something other than what I believe it to be (an organized
> and *potentially* functioning set of information).

I realize that patternists could conveniently "fix" their definition of life in
such a way as to avoid the consequences of this challenge. Obviously, I'm not
interested in the arguments that assume whatever they need to prove. This can
*only* work with a non-arbitrary definition of life.


Robert:
> So, Slawomir, if you are willing to provide a statement "Life is ______"
> (fill in the blank) I'll be happy to consider it.  Otherwise I think this
> discussion has been about "I believe life is ______".

Life is a mind process. Even though I consider this to be a safe and non-arbitrary
definition I fear that patternists might still find some reason to deny this.
Proceed only if you can accept this definition (even "life is a process" will do).
Otherwise your effort will just go to waste.

Slawomir