RE: Duplicates are Selves

From: Reason (reason@exratio.com)
Date: Sat Apr 05 2003 - 16:14:14 MST

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    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: owner-extropians@extropy.org
    > [mailto:owner-extropians@extropy.org]On Behalf Of Harvey Newstrom

    > Lee Corbin wrote,
    > > Yes, but the point is that some people argue that the very
    > > identities of their atoms *are* important, and that they'd have
    > > no objection to teleportation if they didn't have this lingering
    > > feeling that "their" original atoms were back in the previous
    > > teleporter pod reduced to piles of elements.
    >
    > Can you point out any examples of this argument or person? I
    > can't see even
    > religious people believing in a soul caring about which atoms are used. I
    > think this is a false assumption about people who don't think copies
    > preserve identity. There also is a third belief (held by me) that both
    > copies preserve identity, but that neither should be destroyed.
    >
    > I think we are wasting time discussing whether individual atoms are
    > important until we actually find someone who holds this belief.

    I'm a risk-evaluator and a conservator of individual atoms; from my point of
    view, "soul" is shorthand for "this pattern as expressed in these atoms
    right here, more or less." Continuity theory of identity in other words. I
    would not go in for destructive moves or copying, because I feel that it is
    an unnecessary existential risk. Sure, there are all these philosophical
    arguments to show that I'll be fine -- but why take the chance when I don't
    have to? If I'm unwilling to die (considering that I'm fairly open to the
    idea of an infinite multiverse) then why would I be willing to be
    destructively copied?

    Reason
    http://www.exratio.com/



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