Re: [nanotech] the core issue

From: John Clark (jonkc@worldnet.att.net)
Date: Sat Apr 01 2000 - 11:12:42 MST


Mark Gubrud mgubrud@squid.umd.edu wrote:

> How is your notion of "migrating consciousness" different from the ancient
> idea that there exists a "spirit" which can possibly move from one body to another?

I wrote a little about that in my dialogue " Waiting For Zed":

Alf: I'm still not convinced, I still think The Soul exists.

Bob: I have a confession to make, I do too, sort of. Information is as close
        as you can get to the traditional concept of the soul and still remain
        within the scientific method. Consider the similarities:

       The soul is non material and so is information. It's difficult to pin
       down a unique physical location for the soul, and the same is true for
       information. The soul is the essential, must have, part of consciousness,
       exactly the same situation is true for information. The soul is immortal
       and so, potentially, is information.

Alf: Maybe, but there are important differences too.

     A soul is unique but information can be duplicated. The soul is and will
     always remain unfathomable, but information is understandable, in fact,
     information is the ONLY thing that is understandable. Information
     unambiguously exists, I don't think anyone would deny that, but if the
     soul exists it will never be proven scientifically.

      John K Clark jonkc@att.net



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