[ExI] Let's play What If.

John Clark jonkc at bellsouth.net
Tue Oct 26 15:07:27 UTC 2010


On Oct 26, 2010, at 8:49 AM, Stathis Papaioannou wrote:

> you would expect to end up as either the copy or the original with equal probability.

That is true, the probability of ending up as A is exactly 100% and the probability of ending up as B is exactly 100%. 

> if one of the copy or the original is to be tortured you will be
> anxious, because there is a 1/2 probability that you will be tortured.

No, there is a 100% chance you will be tortured and a 100% chance you will not be tortured, this is an odd situation certainly but in no way paradoxical, we're just not accustomed to things like that happening. Yet.  

If something has the same history as you then it is you, but something can have an identical past but not an identical future. When the two futures start to diverge that other fellow would no longer be you, although he would still be Stathis Papaioannou.

 John K Clark


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