john grigg wrote:
> I want an uploading process that actually takes my brain
> and transforms it into a form of energy without any loss to the authentic
> me.
In my humble opinion that's not possible. I feel it is impossible for the same
reason I don't believe in ghosts, vitalism of the soul, pure energy beings with
complex intelligence's, spirits or any non material mind et cetera. I could be
wrong but I don't think pure energy alone can retain complex information. To me
one chunk of pure energy is the same as any other. Wouldn't there need to be, in
computer speak, at least a simple binary like difference of one piece of energy
to another for the most basic information storage to exist? Ironically The
Discovery Channel just came on with a program about ghosts!! LOL
I believe for information to be stored and manipulated one needs a complex
material apparatus to direct energy about--to and fro--like the switches and
gates in silicon chips or the earlier transistors. I believe neurons can be
compared to these same gates and switches. If you smash those neurons or turn
them to dust there is no more information or mind. The energy recycles back to
the universe without any essence from the former shape or pattern of the
material that once marshaled it about. I mean if you turn off or smash your PC
would you expect the wall current to retain all your data? Maybe the electric
company has a backup of my hard drive that got fried? ;) Just kidding.
Sure we send information in the form of energy through the air unattached to any
material thing. However, it is useless unless decoded by another material
device. This is because it has been shaped by the original material device--be
it digital or Morse code or whatever.
Consider the so called soul in religious terms. I'll use memes familiar to
westerners. Suppose a person, a pious priest even, has a brain injury. Before
the injury s/he was good and pious and caring and would never consider acting
overtly evil (by western xian definitions). After the injury they turn into a
monstrous evil perhaps even murderous individual. Has the soul changed? In xian
terms is s/he now considered hell bound and damned? (as seen by other
humans--not making assumptions about godly forgiveness, so let's not go there)
The point is if the mind or soul were "vital" no amount of damage to the brain
could affect behavior. We know it does.
Since damage to the material does affect behavior/information, then the mind is
of the pattern in that matter not the electrochemical energy scurrying about
from neuron to neuron. The problem with uploading as I see it is the term
"upload". It gives the impression the data and not the pattern can be moved or
copied. Perhaps imprinted is a better term. Well that's my layman's take on it
all. I await the inevitable criticisms. Be gentle, I don't claim to be an
expert. Just opinionated. ;)
James
-- "Quod de futuris non est determinata omnino veritas" NOSTRADAMUS 15TH Century
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