Re: Sincere Questions on Identity

From: Jacques Du Pasquier (jacques@dtext.com)
Date: Fri Dec 14 2001 - 04:13:56 MST


Smigrodzki, Rafal wrote (13.12.2001/18:35) :
> Such attitude maximizes the
> chances that entities indistinguishable on the software level from my
> current self will exist in the future, which is exactly the objective of my
> survival instinct.

The desire that evolution has built into our brain is for procreation
(and survival only as far as it favors procreation). So the quest for
individual immortality is in contradiction with the way nature has
made us, it is a rejection by the individual of the plans that
nature has for him (being a temporary support for a stream of life).

The "copy" conception of survival (that you hold) seems closer to the
original "gene" conception of survival (in fact, genes only survive as
copies), while the "continuity" conception seems to follow more naturally
from the specific desire of individual immortality.

Jacques



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