What is the essence...

[glorfindale39]

...of you?

Okay I want to present you with a hypothetical situation, and you tell me what option you would choose. Each of these options speak to what you view to be the nature or essence of you. Please no silly I wouldn’t choose any of these answers, let’s assume you had to choose one.

The ability to teleport from place to place has been invented. The technology consists of your body being analyzed, then reconstructed at a distant location. There are several ways this can happen, which method would you choose.

A. You body is analyzed then a new “you” is created at the distant location using stockpiles of raw materials. After transport the “you” left at the original location is killed, and broken down into raw materials to be stored and used in constructing people teleporting to that location.

B. You body is analyzed and then the information for reconstruction is transmitted to another location. Your body is then killed and broken down into raw material and shipped to the other location where you are reconstructed instantly from your original raw materials.

C. The final option, your body is analyzed then a new “you” is created at the distant location using stockpiles of raw materials. The original you is then dropped through a trap door and put into slavery for the rest of it’s life.

Tell me why you choose your option. I will tell you that I choose option C, but I won’t tell you why until later…. J

Cheers,
G.

 

[Xander]

Option B or C.

Its a toss up really.

B = You remain yourself after you're broken down. And can live on like nothing happend.

C = You're not broken down at all, and you remains you, though you live a life in slavery. There is still a hope that you can escape the chains of labour.
Only thing is there is an indentical you walking arund somewhere WITH the same thoughts and memories as you origionally had before scanning.

 

[glorfindale39]

Option B or C.

Its a toss up really.

B = You remain yourself after you're broken down. And can live on like nothing happend.

C = You're not broken down at all, and you remains you, though you live a life in slavery. There is still a hope that you can escape the chains of labour.
Only thing is there is an indentical you walking arund somewhere WITH the same thoughts and memories as you origionally had before scanning.

What makes thos the B option you? Because it is made of the same atoms? Is that why you feel A is not you, since it is made of different materials?

G.

 

[MysticSwing]

I don't like the idea of "A" where I'd be put back together from other people's raw material. Ewww!

And I definitely don't like the idea of "C" where the original me is dropped through a trap door and into slavery. Brings up too many questions... Would the new me have my memories? Would my concious mind know of both places the two "me's" are at? Which "me" would contain my soul? etc... Naaaa, definitely NOT "C".

I'd have to say "B" - Although I don't like the idea of being killed, at least when I'm put back together, I'd still be me.



(Lets just hope that when/if teleporting is invented, that it's a bit more humane! lol)

 

[Xander]

What makes thos the B option you? Because it is made of the same atoms? Is that why you feel A is not you, since it is made of different materials?

G.

Yes exactly. My flesh, my materials, broken down or not. Has to be the same deal.

 

[glorfindale39]

I don't like the idea of "A" where I'd be put back together from other people's raw material. Ewww!

And I definitely don't like the idea of "C" where the original me is dropped through a trap door and into slavery. Brings up too many questions... Would the new me have my memories? Would my concious mind know of both places the two "me's" are at? Which "me" would contain my soul? etc... Naaaa, definitely NOT "C".

I'd have to say "B" - Although I don't like the idea of being killed, at least when I'm put back together, I'd still be me.



(Lets just hope that when/if teleporting is invented, that it's a bit more humane! lol)

Ahhh, so then I would extrapalate to assume you believe the essence of what makes you, you, is in the mater that composes your body? Thus if you are reconstructed from the same matter, you are still you?

(You right, one would hope teleportation was much more humane. LOL)

G.

 

[MysticSwing]

Ahhh, so then I would extrapalate to assume you believe the essence of what makes you, you, is in the mater that composes your body? Thus if you are reconstructed from the same matter, you are still you?

(You right, one would hope teleportation was much more humane. LOL)

G.

No, that's not exactly what I believe...

Although I did say that "A" would not be my first choice (As I said in my last post, just the "thought" of being reconstructed with someone elses "raw material" is kinda gross. lol) But even "A" would be better choice than "C" in my opinion.

To quote myself in my last post, if I were to choose "C" the moral questions that come to mind are - "Would the new me have my memories? Would my concious mind know of both places the two "me's" are at? Which "me" would contain my soul?"

I believe what makes me "ME" is my inner thoughts, my memories, my "soul"....

 

[glorfindale39]

Only two people an the board respond to this??? Come on people this is not that difficult! LOL Maybe I should have added to situation that you are being teliported to have wild sex with the one person you want to have sex with, then maybe it would have had more appeal. LOL Xander and Mystic, thanks for your responses.

I can't take credit for this question, it or a derivative like it has been used in philosophy classes or theology classes for a long time. I was first asked this almost 13 years ago.

Anyway, I would choose option C. I don't have any evidence of the existance of a soul, or anything untangible that makes me uniquely myself, but I also don't have any evidence that says that is does not exist. Only in option C does my original form remain unmolested with absolute certainty that I remain myself. The other two options are really unknowns. I would choose the absolute of knowing I continue to exist with the chance of freedom, then the posibility of destruction.

G.