Transporter clones
Recently several threads have been dealing with the transporter paradox (see for instance). An excellent and entertaining summary of the problem represents a 10 minute video (here).
A more exhaustive summary of the underlying philosophical problem represents my text The End of Reductionism (see also posts #285, #321, #338, and #343).
On the one hand, consistent reductionist-materialist reasoning leads to conclusions such as:
On the other hand, such conclusions are simply absurd with respect to real life, as efficiently demonstrated in the above referenced video.
Let us imagine that nanotechnology and information technology has made enough progress to create more or less viable transporter-clones of animals, and that the first experiments involving humans are starting.
Then in a real world (where souls are as real as matter) this could happen:
And in a hypothetical monistically materialist world:
Cheers, Wolfgang
From a logical point of view, (reductionist, atheist) materialism may be considered the most absurd religion (belief system of a relevant majority concerning origin and destination of life) of all times of human history
Recently several threads have been dealing with the transporter paradox (see for instance). An excellent and entertaining summary of the problem represents a 10 minute video (here).
A more exhaustive summary of the underlying philosophical problem represents my text The End of Reductionism (see also posts #285, #321, #338, and #343).
On the one hand, consistent reductionist-materialist reasoning leads to conclusions such as:
If you think there is an experiencing self and that this will die in the transporter, you are inconsistent. You are just suffering from delusion. (adapted from)
One is not consistent if one thinks that something essential about one's identity (or experiencing self) would be lost if one stepped into the transporter. (adapted from)
On the other hand, such conclusions are simply absurd with respect to real life, as efficiently demonstrated in the above referenced video.
Let us imagine that nanotechnology and information technology has made enough progress to create more or less viable transporter-clones of animals, and that the first experiments involving humans are starting.
Then in a real world (where souls are as real as matter) this could happen:
After the technology of scanning bodies and creating identical copies has sufficiently advanced, somebody volunteers for such a human transporter project. His body is scanned at one place and this information is used to create clones at a nearby place.
The technology is continuously improved, and when sufficiently viable clones can be created, first incarnation attempts make sense. Then, at daytime the (body of the) volunteer undergoes deep anesthesia, and all participants can only hope (i.e. invest psychic energy) that the clone can be animated by the soul of the volunteer.
Only after several incarnations of clones and re-incarnations of the original body, the volunteer may feel completely comfortable in a cloned body. Then the project team together with the volunteer can decide that this time, the old body will be liquidated instead of being reanimated.
The technology is continuously improved, and when sufficiently viable clones can be created, first incarnation attempts make sense. Then, at daytime the (body of the) volunteer undergoes deep anesthesia, and all participants can only hope (i.e. invest psychic energy) that the clone can be animated by the soul of the volunteer.
Only after several incarnations of clones and re-incarnations of the original body, the volunteer may feel completely comfortable in a cloned body. Then the project team together with the volunteer can decide that this time, the old body will be liquidated instead of being reanimated.
And in a hypothetical monistically materialist world:
Also here, many attempts will be necessary for the first clone to be an unmistakable clone. Let us call the first human volunteering for developing such a transporter-cloning technology Nick.
The technology of scanning and creating copies of Nick is continuously improving. The first clones may not even start to breathe, and from the first breathing clone (e.g. clone #87) to clones resembling handicapped forms of Nick, still a long way must be gone. An important task of Nick will consist in helping to check whether the clones are not somehow defective (e.g. by lacking memories).
Now let us assume that clone 226 is the first 100%-success clone. Until now all clones have been liquidated, but this time the project leaders decide that original Nick finally can be liquidated instead of the clone.
Nick, after having dealt with so many near-clones, probably would no longer agree to commit suicide (with the poor consolation that clone 226 will perfectly well fill the gap created by Nick's death), and would propose that once again the clone should be liquidated instead of himself.
The technology of scanning and creating copies of Nick is continuously improving. The first clones may not even start to breathe, and from the first breathing clone (e.g. clone #87) to clones resembling handicapped forms of Nick, still a long way must be gone. An important task of Nick will consist in helping to check whether the clones are not somehow defective (e.g. by lacking memories).
Now let us assume that clone 226 is the first 100%-success clone. Until now all clones have been liquidated, but this time the project leaders decide that original Nick finally can be liquidated instead of the clone.
Nick, after having dealt with so many near-clones, probably would no longer agree to commit suicide (with the poor consolation that clone 226 will perfectly well fill the gap created by Nick's death), and would propose that once again the clone should be liquidated instead of himself.
Cheers, Wolfgang
From a logical point of view, (reductionist, atheist) materialism may be considered the most absurd religion (belief system of a relevant majority concerning origin and destination of life) of all times of human history
.
