On 22 June 2015 at 17:33, Bruce Kellett <[email protected]> wrote:
> Stathis Papaioannou wrote: > >> >> >> 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. >> >> It's easy to measure differences. One of the new JC's is taller and >> better looking. Naturally, he claims that he is the true JC, but improved. >> > > What he claims is irrelevant. The copies diverge almost instantaneously, > so there are essentially always two new persons in these scenarios. If they > are made to be different by the machine, then there is no duplication! I diverge from my previous self from moment to moment in ordinary life, but I still consider that I remain me. If I woke up tomorrow taller because I had a growth spurt during the night I would still consider that I was me; yet by the "closest continuer" theory, I would stop being me if a copy that hadn't grown was made somewhere else. -- Stathis Papaioannou -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
