Re: Why consciousness matters

From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Mon Dec 11 2000 - 02:38:07 MST


Emlyn wrote,
<<But it begs the question, that if consciousness isn't, and a copy
is the original in all functional senses, then what is the point of
uploading, or a quest for immortality, or anything, really?>>

Uploading, immortality, and anything else that eventuates, can come
in handy for answering begged questions. Who knows how long that
might take.

<<If you personally want to be immortal (or indefinitely long lived,
anyway), you are making a statement about yourself. If consciousness
isn't, if your self isn't, then what is it that you are trying to
preserve? Your description? A state of the universe where some being
traceable back to your original DNA is alive? Why?>>

With uploading and immortality, each unique brain can preserve
itself (not merely a description of itself), because it wants to
know why... why there is anything rather than nothing.

<<If there is no self, what is the motivation to defeat death, on a
personal level, and continue?>>

It's not just a matter of defeating death. It's also a matter of
defeating all that goes with death: The loss of knowledge,
experience, memory, relationships, etc.

 <<Why is personal preservation more important than, for instance,
the preservation of the species?>>

Personal preservation, on a large scale, equates to preservation of
the species.

<<Why wouldn't you support research which would create DNA for an
indefinitely lived next generation, rather than uploading, where you
are trying to preserve the current generation?>>

Uploading does not preclude creation of an indefinitely lived next
generation. Both are worthy of extropians.

 <<Isn't the quest to make future generations long lived far easier
to attain than that to preserve existing (and crumbling)
phenotypes?>>

It may require preservation of existing phenotypes to create long
lived future generations. How sad to think that scientists working
on such projects might die before completing their work.

<<Dennetites, who are also for life extension, what is your
motivation?>>

To outlive the luddites who want to subvert life extension.

Stay hungry,

--J. R.
3M TA3

"It is enough that the people know there was an election.
The people who cast the votes decide nothing.
The people who count the votes decide everything." --Joseph Stalin



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Nov 01 2002 - 15:32:18 MST