<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:DengXian;
panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"\@DengXian";
panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>And yet many philosophers would disagree with you. I forget their exact arguments, something about souls…</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><b>From: </b><a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">Stathis Papaioannou via extropy-chat</a><br><b>Sent: </b>Tuesday, May 4, 2021 8:20 PM<br><b>To: </b><a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">ExI chat list</a><br><b>Cc: </b><a href="mailto:stathisp@gmail.com">Stathis Papaioannou</a><br><b>Subject: </b>Re: [ExI] Pascals wager</p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Wed, 5 May 2021 at 09:34, Hermes Trismegistus via extropy-chat <<a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a>> wrote:</p></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>The only way to scientifically test a theory regarding consciousness, such as the uploading theory, is to have a consciousness perform the observations of tests on itself or entities that are similar enough. If the consciousness cannot detect any effect or change whatsoever, then scientifically one must conclude that there was no effect on consciousness. If uploading was performed gradually such that simulated neurons gradually replace the biological ones through some connection, then the consciousness could observe any noticeable changes. In a proper upload(correctly simulates all the neurons and accompanying molecules), the subject cannot notice a change because a proper upload preserves behavior. Therefore there cannot be any observation that gives evidence that a proper upload does not preserve consciousness.</p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> </p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>The belief that uploading does not preserve consciousness then must stem from a conviction that there is some attribute to consciousness that is not observable, even to the subject herself. This is of course an unscientific belief, but many, even seemingly rational, people believe in such ethereal things. I think people like attaching mysterious attributes to consciousness because it makes them feel special, that they transcend the material world.</p></div></div></blockquote><div><p class=MsoNormal>The most serious problem with the idea that there is an aspect of consciousness which is not observable even to the subject herself is not scientific, it is logical. A difference that is neither objective nor subjective us no difference at all. If I had an injury requiring a part of my brain to be replaced and I had the choice of an electronic implant for $5000 or a magical implant for $6000, and knew that neither I nor anyone else would be able to tell any difference between them, why would I choose the more expensive option? </p></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- </p><p class=MsoNormal>Stathis Papaioannou</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>