[ExI] Technical Uploading Difficulties

[John Grigg]

Lee Corbin wrote:
Of course, there are many who will never believe that anything
outside their own skin can be the same person that they are,
and for them, your example isn't of any use. Too bad. Because
in one sentence you've summarized exactly how personal identity
will be handled in the future.
>>>

Continuity! Continuity! Continuity! lol  I suffer almost post-traumatic
syndrome-type memories regarding this thread topic and the other
thread subject of gun control.  ; )

I always liked the "self-circuit" idea of cryonics giant, Robert Ettinger. I
think a good story for exploring the idea of uploading and identity is the
one of two scientists who vehemently debate whether a perfectly identical
copy of you is TRULY and completely *you*.  The two scientists build a
matter duplication device and the researcher who believes a perfect copy is
absolutely indistinguishable from himself in all ways goes ahead and makes a
copy of...., himself!  The scientist who had argued that a perfect copy was
not to be confused with the original very calmly takes a 44 magnum handgun
from a desk drawer, points it at the head of the original scientist (not the
perfect in all respects copy of him), and says, "now just how certain are
you that your life is utterly indistinguishable from your perfect
copy?" LOL

There was an Outer Limits episode where a race of very technologically
advanced and yet pacifistic (roughly human-sized) Saurians came to the aid
of a very polluted and over-populated Earth that is barely surviving.  The
aliens hold out the promise of new worlds to explore and colonize due to the
amazing "teleportation" machines that they are willing to share with us.

But their alien mentality is brought out when a female human scientist is
"teleported" to one of their worlds but the original woman is left alive.
It turns out their "teleportation devices" are simply a very sophisticated
duplication technology!  They take it for granted that the original
traveler at point A is to be killed/vaporized (according to their laws) as
soon as the copy is successfully created at point B.  The idea of having
multiple copies of the same being running around is seen as
highly unethical by the aliens and so they demand the death of the women, or
they will withdraw their support from humanity.  The human concept of a
"self-circuit" is totally irrelevant to the reptilian Saurians, who despite
being pacificists, still appear to be very cold and callous by human
standards.  The human leader must make a very hard decision...  The plot was
in spirit quite similar to the classic Tom Godwin science fiction short
story, "The Cold Equations."

Stories can sometimes be good food for thought.

John  : )
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.extropy.org/pipermail/extropy-chat/attachments/20080308/c5715858/attachment.html>