Stathis Papaioannou wrote:
On 22 June 2015 at 17:33, Bruce Kellett <[email protected]
<mailto:[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.
You forget the closest continuer theory of personal identity. It is only
when there are ties, as in duplication, that there is a problem of
personal identity. And this problem is resolved by stating that there
are two new people in such cases.
Why do you find this difficult?
Bruce
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