On Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 11:16:55AM -0800, Brent Meeker wrote: > > But who would say "yes" to the doctor if he said that he would take a movie > of > your brain states and project it? Or if he said he would just destroy you in > this universe and you would continue your experiences in other branches of > the > multiverse or in platonia? Not many I think. > > Brent >
Then perhaps nobody has sufficient faith in COMP! Interestingly, I pointed out an inherent contradiction in the "Yes, doctor" postulate a while back, which I gather you're still thinking of a response Bruno. Lets call it the "Standish wager", after the Pascal wager about belief in God. If YD is true, then you must also accept the consequences, namely COMP-immortality. In which case you may as well say "no" to the doctor, as COMP-immortality guarantees that you will survive the terminal brain disease that brought you to the doctor in the first place. Of course, in reality, it may be a very different choice being presented. Perhaps Vinge's Singularity happens, and one is given the choice between uploading into the hive mind, or being put to death on the spot to conserve resources. Or more modestly, one is being given a choice of whether to have a direct internet connection implanted in your skull. In each of these cases, one should make the choice based on whether the new configuration offers a better life over your existing one, or not. Survival prospects really shouldn't enter into it. In the event YD is false, you will then not be any worse off than you were before. BTW - I watched the Prestige on the weekend. Good recommendation, Bruno! My wife enjoyed it greatly too, and wants to watch it again sometime. I can't get her to read my book, though :( Cheers -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A/Prof Russell Standish Phone 0425 253119 (mobile) Mathematics UNSW SYDNEY 2052 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Australia http://www.hpcoders.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
