Re: Immortality

From: Jason Joel Thompson (jasonjthompson@home.com)
Date: Thu Dec 07 2000 - 15:28:12 MST


PART 2

Nine Tough Questions You Haven't Asked Me Yet:

1. "Is it logical to cling to a particular iteration?"

For some, perhaps not. I've got a bit of solipsism mixed into my philosophy
however, so in my case, it's the difference that makes all the difference.
I have a bit of an experiential bias towards reality. I confess: I don't
really care about (or even, perhaps, believe in) external realities that
don't share a causal experiential chain with me.

2. "We build a form of uploading in which it can be definitively shown that
iterative destruction results. Do you go for it anyway?"

No, damn it. But I won't be happy about it. (Sigh... at least it will be
'me' not being happy about it, as opposed to Jason #2 having the time of his
life.)

3. " Transporter beams?"

Nope, sorry.

4. "Don't you want to be like Captain Kirk, and see the universe and make
out with green chicks on strange planets?"

Doesn't everybody?

5. "Yer just being difficult, aren't you?"

I would never never never do that. Never. How dare you suggest such a
thing? I'm shocked.

6. "Come, come, elucidate your thoughts."

Watch it.

7. "If you do upload, don't you want to make back-up copies of yourself?"

Yes I do. But it's not going to be as simple as having the contents of my
hard drive on a DVD somewhere. I imagine an uploaded system with lots of
redundancies, capable of recovering from widespread damage on the fly with
nearly instantaneously mirrored processes and data. However, there would be
an amount of damage that would be unacceptable-- a point at which the
intelligence "goes away." That would be a bad thing.

8. "Can't you see all the ways in which this is a limiting belief?"

Functionally, I appreciate the problem. But, again, can't -you- see why
it's the difference that makes all the difference? This belief doesn't
limit myself, it limits the prospects of the next iteration (which, I admit,
might not be a very nice thing to do. I apologize in advance for any harm I
may be inflicting on my future iterations-- but if you guys just hold out
long enough, I might change my mind!)

9. "Are you done yet?"

Yes, goodbye.

--
   ::jason.joel.thompson::
   ::founder::
    www.wildghost.com


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