From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Fri Apr 04 2003 - 15:44:23 MST
Lee Corbin wrote,
> So, I'll just go back to my former claim: if you believe physics
> with all your heart, and so don't suppose that the particular atoms
> that you are composed of have anything to do with who you are, then
> you won't mind teleporting, because the pattern of atoms will be
> the same after as before.
I think this is true. I am not sure I know of anyone who objects to being
teleported in this manner. The objections occur after the teleportation is
complete and there are now two identical copies. For a "destructive copy",
we then want to kill one of the copies. Is this act acceptable or not?
Some people do not see a problem with this. Others don't want either copy
killed. This is the main objection to "destructive" copying. It is not the
copy operation, but the destruction operation that is disputed.
The decision whether it is "acceptable" to kill one out of multiple copies
boils down to a philosophical question of ethics. I don't think physics can
answer this ethical question. The question of whether each copy would allow
themselves to die boils down to a question of person choice. I don't think
physics can answer this personal question of choice either.
-- Harvey Newstrom, CISSP, IAM, GSEC <www.HarveyNewstrom.com>
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