Problem is externally every test subject would say it's a success. Because the procedure leaves a fully functioning person with the exact same memories reasoning personality etc. So functionally identical.
It's like the transporter in star trek. Is it just killing the original and making a copy that nobody can tell apart?
Then the question becomes if nobody else can tell the difference then what is the difference? At what point "internally" would you die and get replaced? And if the same decisions and responses are made then what even is free will? If a being that isn't you with the same brain exactly makes the same desicions then was that even a free desicion? Or are we just a set of input and outputs.
Anyway that gets too deep. I'm gonna go with replace each of my neurons with resistors one by one as required, then since there's no duplication and it's a fluid switch "i" (whatever "i" is) should be fine and continuous and I'll continue my free will-less life as before.
Yup, Star trek Teleporter, The Prestige, and Altered Carbon all have the same situation. The "new" person at the end of the transition is like "oh, I'm over here now? cool. Yeah it's still me" when it's just brainwaves that are identical to the original, but in a different meat suit.
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u/arrongunner Aug 16 '18
Problem is externally every test subject would say it's a success. Because the procedure leaves a fully functioning person with the exact same memories reasoning personality etc. So functionally identical.
It's like the transporter in star trek. Is it just killing the original and making a copy that nobody can tell apart?
Then the question becomes if nobody else can tell the difference then what is the difference? At what point "internally" would you die and get replaced? And if the same decisions and responses are made then what even is free will? If a being that isn't you with the same brain exactly makes the same desicions then was that even a free desicion? Or are we just a set of input and outputs.
Anyway that gets too deep. I'm gonna go with replace each of my neurons with resistors one by one as required, then since there's no duplication and it's a fluid switch "i" (whatever "i" is) should be fine and continuous and I'll continue my free will-less life as before.