[extropy-chat] Probability of identity

[Jef Allbright]

Heartland wrote:
> It's Slawomir, Jef. :)
Very sorry, S. ;)

> Yes, I remember. You accurately characterized my position,
> yet didn't agree with it for some reason. I'm not sure what
> was the source of disagreement. Correct me if I'm wrong but,
> based on what you've written in this thread, it seems like
> your definition of survival deals more with goal fulfillment
> through your future copies (in the same sense an artist hopes
> to influence the world through his/her work long after
> his/her material death) rather than preservation of physical
> processes that implement the first "you". But that's just an educated
> guess. 

Actually I believe "survival" as popularly conceived is an illusion, so
there's nothing to hang on to anyway.  The child I was at the age of
eight is long gone, but I remember him fondly.

To me, the key is to recognize that the Self doesn't inhabit the body,
but rather is a construct of the body within its environment.  The Self
is just going along for the ride, and it feels like it's in control
because that kind of functioning is what evolution settled on because it
works.  It's very difficult to break the illusion because our culture,
our language, and our personal experience tells us that the Self is the
center of the action.

Oh well.  Nothing new to see here.  Move along now, move along...

- Jef