From: Reason (reason@exratio.com)
Date: Sun Dec 01 2002 - 21:01:56 MST
--> Avatar Polymorph
> I don't know whether many extropians still hold with his views but Tipler
> would argue that his Omega Point theory provides an out for those who die
> (or a re-entry perhaps).
If MWI is true, then anyone who believes in pattern identity shouldn't worry
about dying, since there are countably infinite copies of every possible
human pattern.
Similary, the Dust Hypothesis as outlined in Permutation City by Greg Egan
(there are infinitely many physical systems in the universe -- MWI or
otherwise -- that are mathematically equivelant to at least a few sequential
processing steps of any arbitrary turing machine, combine that with the
pattern identity thingy, and therefore every possible simulation ever is
already being run right now) has the same outcome.
Of course, it's something of a leap of faith to base life and death choices
on pattern identity theory. It might be wrong. Better to be a cautious late-
or non-adopter than rush in and risk personal extinction.
Reason
http://www.exratio.com/
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