RE: Duplicates are Selves

From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Sat Apr 05 2003 - 17:36:19 MST

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    Eliezer writes

    > When I teleport, I want to anticipate a 100% subjective probability
    > of being where I'm going, not a 50% subjective probability of being
    > where I'm going. I therefore want to be moved, not copied.

    I think that it is the deepest mistake I've been able to
    identify in a decades-long examination of the identity
    paradox to suppose that it's a question of probability.

    In other words, if you teleport to point B and your point A
    version is not disintegrated, then with 100% probability
    you arrive at B *and* with 100% probability you remain at A.
    Needless to say, this is highly counter-intuitive, and although
    evolution has prepared us for understanding being at two times
    in the same place, we are unprepared for the logically equally
    real possibility of being in two places at the same time.

    That you *should* anticipate being in both places is demonstrated
    by the possibility that later the memories conceivably could be
    merged; at that point, it would be apparent to the future you
    that it had been a mistake not to anticipate both possibilities.

    If you were fleeing a horrible situation by teleport, it would
    be understandable that no you would wish to remain at A. But
    under normal circumstances, your life's goals would be advanced
    by remaining at A along with going to B.

    Lee



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