[ExI] Technical Uploading Difficulties
Brent Allsop
brent.allsop at comcast.net
Sat Mar 8 20:50:19 UTC 2008
John,
These are great stories that illustrate the problem, but if you ask me
it's dumb to worry about any of this if this so far most popular theory
of consciousness turns out to be true:
http://canonizer.com/topic.asp/23/7
Within this theory, there is a description of what uploading will be
like in this extremely short story entitled 1229 years after Titanic
available here:
http://home.comcast.net/~brent.allsop/
If anyone thinks this isn't possible as described, of if they think
uploading like this doesn't completely eliminate all of these problems,
I'd sure love to capture such a point of view (POV) in either the
canonized topic on the Hard Problem, or in the feedback topic about the
story.
Now we can finally stop arguing about this now resolved issue over and
over again right?
Brent Allsop
John Grigg wrote:
> 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 : )
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