Re: This is just a copy

Randall R Randall (rrandall6@juno.com)
Thu, 16 Jul 1998 03:29:25 -0400

--
On Wed, 15 Jul 1998 21:26:11 -0700 (PDT) John K Clark <johnkc@well.com> writes:

> >If you assume, as I do, that the two copies are two seperate

but        

> >identical people, then your original copy did have its last
thought,
> >while the new copy had its first original thought.
>
>I can't respond to that because I don't understand it. Two identical
people
>producing two identical consciousness that are nevertheless completely

Not completely, John.

>different and thereby distinguishable by the identical consciousness
>themselves? I don't get it, are they identical or are they not?

If you are standing in a room looking at an *exact* duplicate (except for position) of yourself, do you imagine that you would
be unable to tell which person you were? Do you believe that you would be able
to experience both sets of senses at the same time? If each brain can only sense experiences from the set of eyes, ears, and so on that it is hooked up to, then how can they be the same person?

> >Is there any way to test the original to see if it is not dead?

>
>I don't know who "the original" is and the entire concept is fuzzy but
I'll
>tell you one thing, the only answer I ever get to my question is "no I'm
not
>dead".

Yes, but the same is true of anyone, and that's not a useful reply. :)

> >You seem to assume that I and others who think as I do are

giving         

> >some significance to our specific atoms.
>
>
>You have not explicitly made such a claim but if you're right then the
>conclusion is unavoidable, that's one reason I'm so certain you're not
>right.

I disagree that it matters what *atoms* are used, individually. It *does*, IMHO, matter what continuity of experience is possible.

--digsig

         Wolfkin.
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wolfkin@flatoday.infi.net | ICQ: 3043097 E-Gold Acct: 100678 @ www.e-gold.com
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