From: Jef Allbright (jef@jefallbright.net)
Date: Mon Oct 14 2002 - 13:48:26 MDT
Speaking as "a materialist", I would have no problem with being duplicated
and having the original immediately destroyed in the process. This would be
the case with a Star Trek-type transporter for example. Note that by
"immediately", I mean that there is no time for the two instantiations of
myself to begin to diverge in conciousness.
On the other hand, if two copies of myself are allowed to diverge, then each
of them is going to have a strong vested interest in self-preservation and
each will protest and protect themselves from being destroyed. There is no
mystery or higher meaning in this. That's the way we are -- built with self
preservation as one of our strongest drives. Much stronger, in most cases,
than altruism, even with a $10M enhancement to the survivor.
It's interesting that if the two did begin to diverge, no matter how
briefly, then my morals would dictate that each then has an equal right to
exist and each should receive full protection. If society decided
otherwise, then that same reasoning could be used to jeapordize other
individual rights that we consider valuable.
- Jef
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