> Emlyn <emlyn@one.net.au> Wrote:
>
> > ... and as we add new stuff, we can slowly shut off old stuff.
Eventually,
> > the transition is complete. Like the axe handed down through
generations,
> > head replaced 3 times, handle replaced 7 times, the components have
changed,
> > but identity remains. I think we can fully upload, and retain
conscious integrity.
> > Not by a copy mechanism, however; only by gradual modification
>
> I'd like to do it that way too, at least if I was one of the very early
uploaders,
> the reason is strictly practical, it would be the best way to catch small
bugs
> in the replacement protocol before they became large bugs.
> Philosophically speaking the speed of the change would make absolutely no
difference.
>
> >Unfortunately, this is not an information scenario, and means there
is no
> >possibility of backups.
>
> Ok, I have good information about a neuron in your brain so I can use
> Nanotechnology to remove it and replace it with an artificial one. The
> 10,000 other neurons connected to it would see nothing strange;
> if my information is good (and if it's at the atomic level it certainly
is) the
> artificial neuron will externally act just like the natural one. When
you're
> satisfied the neuron is working properly and you are still you I get to
work
> on another neuron. After doing this 100 billion times your entire brain is
> now artificial and even you admit this thing is you.
> End of story.
>
> Oh, one thing I forgot to tell you, when I removed neurons from your
> brain I didn't throw them away, I assembled them into a brain that
> also insists it's you.
>
> You know something, you're both right.
>
> John K Clark jonkc@att.net
>
I agree, absolutely. The bio-brain that you reassembled is a copy, but is a
me (not the me, although it is it's own the me). The artificial brain,
however, includes the original stream of consciousness; if it had been
killed, "I" would experience death. If the copy experienced death, I'd
probably be sad, but hey, at least it wasn't me.
>From the copy's point of view, it is me. If the "original" died, it'd be
sad, but it'd get over it. If it died, well, that would be a disaster for
it.
Emlyn
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