If there's a tie then it would seem that there is only one person (identity of
indiscernibles). But I think that's impossible for longer that milliseconds, since the
two copies are at different spacetime locations.
Brent
On 6/22/2015 12:05 AM, Bruce Kellett wrote:
Stathis Papaioannou wrote:
On 22 June 2015 at 16:35, Bruce Kellett <bhkell...@optusnet.com.au
John Clark wrote:
After they diverge they will still both identify with the same
person, John Clark, HOWEVER they no longer will identify with
each other, and both would consider their life to be more
important than that other fellow who happened to have the same
name. Before they diverged things would be very different, there
would be no other fellow, there would only be one.
That is an eminently sensible statement. It accords well with the
"closest continuer" theory of personal identity. According to that
theory, if there is a tie for being the *closest* continuer, as in
this case, the initial person does not continue, but two new persons
are created. If the duplicate is identical to the original in every
respect, there is only one person -- identity of indiscernibles and
all that. JC is correct, there would be no 'other fellow'.
Once the copy diverges from the original, there are two different
(new) persons. They may share some memories, but so what? People
often share memories. Neither is the original person.
The "closest continuer" idea is wrong on many counts. Both copies consider themselves
to be the original - both are wrong in your view. But if one copy was 0.1% different
from the origina, that copy would not be the continuation of the original, despite
thinking that he was, just a bit taller and a bit happier for the experience. On the
other hand, if one copy was 1% different and the other 0.1% different, the 0.1% copy
would be a continuation of the original. And if the 0.1% copy was in a coma when
created, the 1% copy would be the continuer until the 0.1% copy was revived.
How are you going to measure these fine differences? If there is a tie according to any
appreciable measurement, then there are two new persons. Don't forget that the
duplication is only accurate at the level of replacement, which is never assumed to be
exact -- we cannot have exact copies because of the quantum cloning restrictions. The
odd difference in the number of atoms in your big toe is not a relevant difference.
Bruce
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