From: ' ' (justin_benedict@hotmail.com)
Date: Tue Mar 03 2009 - 17:21:29 MST
It boils down to identity...
What is the difference between say a programmable silicon or carbon nanotube neuron versus an organic neuron?
We are obviously a pattern of information that is created by a physical process...
So is the pattern the only thing that matters or is it both the pattern and the physical substrate?
If the substrate is different but the pattern is the same then does it matter?
If at instance x I copy of me is created while at the same time I am destroyed then does my consciousness continue?
Obviously if a copy of me is created and I can go up and pat him on the head then there are two of us no?
We are seperate physical processes running the same pattern (therefore there are two of us), but if two physical processes are replaced at the exact instance x then does it matter?
> Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 15:05:18 -0800
> From: matmahoney@yahoo.com
> Subject: RE: [sl4] Re: Uploads coming first would be good, right?
> To: sl4@sl4.org
>
>
> --- On Tue, 3/3/09, ' ' <justin_benedict@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I am programmed to say this argument is going no-where and
> > is quite ridiculous and a waste of time.
> >
> > Seriously though, who cares?
> >
> > Do we really have any idea how such a teleportation device
> > would work?
> >
> > Is it possible at all?
> >
> > Is all of this purely theoretical with no end in sight?
> >
> > Shouldn't we just talk about the identity issue
> > instead, since that will ultimately effect ALL future
> > endeavors AFTER the singularity?
> >
> > Hasn't the identity issue been resolved on numerous
> > occasions or are there wholes in what people have said
> > already?
>
> No, because uploading is the same issue with the extra complication that the copy is not exactly like the original. (Its brain is in silicon. It has a robotic body, or no body, etc). I could phrase the same question in this context. If there is a program running that imitates you so well that nobody can distinguish it from you, then are you willing to die and give control of your estate to this program?
>
> -- Matt Mahoney, matmahoney@yahoo.com
>
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