Re: Uploading

Robert Schrader (rms@cts.com)
Tue, 25 Mar 1997 14:27:59 -0800 (PST)


On Mon, 24 Mar 1997, John K Clark wrote:

>
> mikec@jax.gulfnet.com (Mike C.) On Mon, 24 Mar 1997 Wrote:
>
> >They [copies] would not be me. A would think it was A, B would think
> >it was B.
>
> A would think it was A, B would think it was A, both would be correct.
>
Yes, but in a sense both would be wrong, because 'A' doesn't mean the same
thing anymore. Both are now faced with major problems. ( Which one of
us is married? Or does my spouse like polygamy? Who goes to work on
Monday, and who pays the income tax on it? These are only a few )

Being A is now so different from what being A was before that it would
probably have been less of a change than becoming person C with no duplicate.

> You walk into a matter duplicating chamber, there is a blinding flash of
> light, when your eyes clear there is a man who looks just like you standing
> to your right. I have 3 questions.
>
> 1) How could you determine if you were the "original" (whatever that means)
> or the "copy"?

Physical placement. Are you standing on the red square marked 'source'
or the one labeled 'destination'?

> 2) Why should you even care?

Unless some governing body made some applicable law, you probably
shouldn't.

> 3) If you somehow found out that you were the copy, what if anything would
> you do?

Attempt to confuse all observers as soon as possible about who is who,
and lie vigorously. This assumes that it is relevant ( as in #2 ) and
further assumes that there is an advantage in being the original.

In the absence of #2-type laws it seems best to attempt to negotiate an
immediate non-competition agreement with your duplicate, because he
has the same potential problems that you do. If seems also useful
( if one's concience permits ) to conspire to commit some profitable
crimes, because of the new alibi possibilities.

Robert Schrader rms@cts.com