X-Message-Number: 14943
From: "George Smith" <>
References: <>
Subject: Multimind and identity
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 10:37:14 -0800

In Message #14934 on the subject: nature of identity, John de Rivaz gave
some very simple, down to earth examples of how each of us is comprised of
may "selfs".

This approach was treated in some depth by psychologist Robert Ornstein in
his ground breaking book MULTIMIND (1986: Houghton Mifflin Company - ISBN:
0-395-41107-6).

I highly recommend it as it undercuts culturally popular beliefs you may
have in regard to your identity being static and singular.  In this sense,
your sense of identity takes on more of the role of a space on the stage of
awareness into which aspects of personality, often quite independent of one
another, will enter, take action and then be pushed out by other such
aspects.

Much as the illusion of movement is created by rapidly projected single
frames in a film, so too it may very well be that the sense of a singular
identity is produced by rapidly projected aspects of thought.

Again, NOT taking into account the SUBJECTIVE experience of experience could
result in simulations of your mind which miss out on the basic requirements
for producing a sense of identity.  How easy it is to slow a motion picture
projector and remove the sense of life or to wind the film in backwards or
in reverse.

I personally feel certain these issues will be resolved in time but they
will have to recognized and resolved first for uploading to be truly
successful.  In the meantime, preserving your physical body and especially
your nervous system seems very prudent.

Best wishes,

George Smith

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