From: Avatar Polymorph (avatarpolymorph@hotmail.com)
Date: Mon Oct 28 2002 - 20:49:58 MST
Charlie Stross wrote that cells are replaced and refurbished atomically, and
therefore bits are the focus of identity. He also noted neurons are replaced
fully less frequently.
The continuity/section-by-section replacement argument takes this into
account. Continuity does not imply stasis, it only points out that
continuity is an essential figure of life, whether in sperm or egg cells or
neural systems. I guess mutation is also done in small stages.
Personally I am going to adhere to these principles in my augmentation and
avoid getting into the notion that anything other than a quantum duplicate
of me could be "me" - it's just a crude (atomic level) copy with my apparent
memory. It doesn't mean that I can't split my brain (whatever mix of
nanotech, computronium and organic core that ends up as) but I will be
keeping continuity of my neural patternings and changing these maps only
slowly and carefully and in little sections at a time. If I split my network
I will physically grow extensions and/or split my brain physically and be
very careful with how I integrate broadcast linkage between my neural
network and those of others to avoid moral problems and suicide.
Towards Ascension
Avatar Polymorph
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