If you were to step into a transporter (like the ones they have on star-trek) and it transported you down to a planet or whatever by replicating you down on the planet and destroying the original would the person down on the planet be you?
philisophical question.
- Thread starter Captain_Crunch
- Start date
According to my understanding, NO. Also, according to psychology,
NO. Why ? They seem to believe that consciousness is created by
your brain. When your original is destroyed, your "consciousness"
goes down the tube too (hehe, down a tube, hehe). You're going
to say that my consciousness was unique, and therefore, I should
come back from the void ? I can't seem to find the words that will
enable me to properly expound on why I think you'd simply cease
to exist and a really neat clone would take your place but hey, can't
wait to see what others will have to say...
NO. Why ? They seem to believe that consciousness is created by
your brain. When your original is destroyed, your "consciousness"
goes down the tube too (hehe, down a tube, hehe). You're going
to say that my consciousness was unique, and therefore, I should
come back from the void ? I can't seem to find the words that will
enable me to properly expound on why I think you'd simply cease
to exist and a really neat clone would take your place but hey, can't
wait to see what others will have to say...
Voodoo Child
Registered Senior Member
IMO yes.
You are a certain collection of neural pathways and chemical states. If you can recreate this then you have recreated yourself, using a different set of atoms. Like a computer program running on a different computer.
You are a certain collection of neural pathways and chemical states. If you can recreate this then you have recreated yourself, using a different set of atoms. Like a computer program running on a different computer.
it would be you physically but not mentally, or would it? i really dont know.
Id say yes because u would never actually be destroyed would u?? the machine would take a little peice of u and move it. ur brain would neevr really be switched off so u would always be conscious and therefore still exist. the 'new you' would still have all of the original thoughts experiences etc as the 'old one' IMO
It depends what you think makes you you. If you think your brain structure and so on is all there is, then any "copy" of that (provided such a thing is possible) would, for all intents and purposes, be you, even if other copies existed simultaneously.
If, on the other hand, you believe in a soul, merely copying the brain may not be enough to copy "you".
If, on the other hand, you believe in a soul, merely copying the brain may not be enough to copy "you".
If it could copy you perfectly (i.e neural pathways) , it would be you. As the case of Phineas Gage illustrates, the structure of our brains is what makes us...us.
So yes.
So yes.
you're basically asking if a clone is still you.
the scientist would say yes, because conciousness and memory is all part of the complex brain organ. A TOTAL carbon copy would still be you.
I'd like to think theres more to people than that tho. i think we're a long way from being able to clone a soul...
the scientist would say yes, because conciousness and memory is all part of the complex brain organ. A TOTAL carbon copy would still be you.
I'd like to think theres more to people than that tho. i think we're a long way from being able to clone a soul...
im not really asking because i dont beleive there is a correct answer. i am merely giving a question to ponder. 
I think that if they could clone a human perfectly (to include thoughts), then yes, the clone would be like you.
However, once you are cloned, you would start to become different from your clone, because your experiences would be different.
If you take a left turn, and your clone takes a right turn, then your future experiences start to differ, and you become unique individuals.
Just my unproven opinion...
However, once you are cloned, you would start to become different from your clone, because your experiences would be different.
If you take a left turn, and your clone takes a right turn, then your future experiences start to differ, and you become unique individuals.
Just my unproven opinion...
This is a tough question.
My first instinct is to say 'no'. But I think the correct answer is actually 'yes'.
The reason is in the assumption that the transporter would exactly replicate all the nueral networks in the brain.
A clone would not be 'you' because these networks are being formed and changing as one gains experience.
Here is the hard thing to realize: Who we are changes every second of every day. We are not static mentally or physically. Our brains are constantly being re-wired.
So, I think it would be 'you'.
Here is another tough angle: If the transporter did not destroy the original 'you'...who would you be? I'd say both are new versions of that particular instance of 'you'.
My first instinct is to say 'no'. But I think the correct answer is actually 'yes'.
The reason is in the assumption that the transporter would exactly replicate all the nueral networks in the brain.
A clone would not be 'you' because these networks are being formed and changing as one gains experience.
Here is the hard thing to realize: Who we are changes every second of every day. We are not static mentally or physically. Our brains are constantly being re-wired.
So, I think it would be 'you'.
Here is another tough angle: If the transporter did not destroy the original 'you'...who would you be? I'd say both are new versions of that particular instance of 'you'.
Yes, it would be me as long as the pattern of neural activation changes gradually. Maybe that is not the true criterium. Hmmmm
If your answer is 'no', what about:
if one suffers from a terrible desease for which there is no known cure, then there is the option of getting frozen. Imagine that in 150 years or so we have found a cure to the desease AND know how to wake up the patients. Would the patient be the same person as before?
If so, I see several options.
1. A discontinuity in activation patterns does not matter in defining the person.
2. It is physical/material pattern, not a pattern of neural activity per se, that defines the person. But this raises two problems: a. there is no 'hope' for mind-upload (I know some of you hold this dear), and b. how about the constant changing of our material bodies? We are constantly replacing molecules.
3. It is a spiritual entity, which is somehow linked to our physical body that defines our personality. However, that would be Dualism.
If your answer is 'no', what about:
if one suffers from a terrible desease for which there is no known cure, then there is the option of getting frozen. Imagine that in 150 years or so we have found a cure to the desease AND know how to wake up the patients. Would the patient be the same person as before?
If so, I see several options.
1. A discontinuity in activation patterns does not matter in defining the person.
2. It is physical/material pattern, not a pattern of neural activity per se, that defines the person. But this raises two problems: a. there is no 'hope' for mind-upload (I know some of you hold this dear), and b. how about the constant changing of our material bodies? We are constantly replacing molecules.
3. It is a spiritual entity, which is somehow linked to our physical body that defines our personality. However, that would be Dualism.
Last edited:
no actually, now i think about it, a clone wouldnt have the same experiences or may think the same as you as somebody said. A copy like in a transporter would have all your memories etc and there wouldnt be an original cause it would destroy the original.
flaming june
Registered Member
well what about those who's hearts stopped for a few seconds or even minutes when they're were being operated? ah?
Last edited:
flaming june
Registered Member
people on operation tables who die for a couple seconds or minutes. they're bodies stop functions for a few instance.
June, this has nothing to do with the topic of the thread unless you are trying to redirect the topic away from the original question: If you were to step into a transporter (like the ones they have on star-trek) and it transported you down to a planet or whatever by replicating you down on the planet and destroying the original would the person down on the planet be you?
Its not to do with clones because clones do not have the same memories and experiences as you, they mearly look the same, a 'replication' as it were would however, so would it be the same person?
Its not to do with clones because clones do not have the same memories and experiences as you, they mearly look the same, a 'replication' as it were would however, so would it be the same person?