[rescue] consciousness immortality

[George Wyche]

You might find reading David Brin's "Kiln People" a fun read since this
topic is the center piece of the book.

ggw

> [redirecting to geeks]
>
> " From: Mouse <mouse at Rodents-Montreal.ORG>
> "
> " >> Though seriously, I consider it within the bounds of possibility
> " >> that, assuming we do not suffer a civilization crash, by the time my
> " >> physical body's ability to sustain me is exhausted, we will have the
> " >> capability to opt for upload into zettabyte space.
> " > what bothers me about that is, it's like email - only a -copy- of the
> " > -original-, which still dies.
> "
> " In a sense.  But in some sense, we're all dying all the time.
>
> we're also all regenerating all the time - that's what stem cells are
> for.
>
> btw, the number of times a stem cell can divide varies across species,
> but there seems to be an upper bound that none surpass.  it's called
> the hayflick limit, after the dr. who discovered it.  for humans, it
> would represent an age of about 2 centuries.  and no, that doesn't
> mean living with a slowed-down metabolism like a turtle.
>
> " It's continuity of sense-of-self, which mostly means continuity of
> " memory, that I care about.  If my mind can be moved to a silicon
> " substrate, I wouldn't care about the meat substrate I left behind any
> " more than I care about the way my current body's cells keep dying all
> " the time now.
>
> well, any number of copies would have the same sense-of-self as you the
> original do, if they're faithful, accurate, and complete.  they still
> wouldn't be -you- the original, just clones.
>
> " > the fate of me - the original - isn't changed just b/c the -copy-
> " > lives forever.
> "
> " But what is "me"?  We don't yet know what "me" will be when - if - that
> " sort of thing becomes possible.
>
> anything which is conscious and self-aware can call itself 'me'.  but
> the best -copy- is no more than a -clone- of -me-.
>
> " > nor does it matter if 3rd parties can't tell the difference between
> " > us - i can.
> "
> " Can you?  Maybe you won't be able to.
>
> i'll have the advantage of viewpoint.  i may not be able to prove i'm
> either the original or a copy, but in that situation i'd be pretty
> sure there were 2 of us, not 1.
>
> " We don't yet know.  For all we
> " know, it may turn out that during the time that both the CHON you and
> " the silicon you exist, they will share a single mind.
>
> unity is a promising concept, but -- here's a nightmare for ya:
>
> suppose that, after years of happy fusion, one day the organic part
> of you dies -- and the silicon part of you discovers that there was
> something you were able to do before which you now can't, and you
> can't even remember exactly what it was...
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
> internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
> adh at an.bradford.ma.us                       and think what none thought
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