X-Message-Number: 23836 Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 21:28:12 -0400 From: Francois <> Subject: Identity, a thought experiment repeated This is a thought experiment I have already described not too long ago. I think it's worth repeating after the discussion on memory and identity of the past few days. Stage 1, I am frozen. Stage 2, advanced nanotechnology is used to make a perfect, atom for atom copy of my frozen body. Stage 3, the two identical frozen bodies are randomly mixed in the absence of any observer or information recording device. Stage 4, the two identical frozen bodies are revived using whatever technology is adequate for that task. The result are two identical individuals. We cannot determine by any concievable set of objective observations who the original is and who the copy is. The individuals themselves cannot determine by any concievable set of subjective observations who the original is and who the copy is. Both individuals will be me, in every way possible. Let me repeat that. BOTH individuals will be ME, in EVERY way possible. We can extend this experiment in the following way. The information describing the nature and positions of the atoms of my frozen body is recorded in a database during stage 2 and is stored somewhere. A million years in the future, someone discovers this database and uses it to build a perfect, atom for atom reconstruction of my frozen body. This body is then revived and I wake up a million years in the future. Again, that future individual will be me in every way possible. The only way out of these conclusions is to invoke the existence of some property of our persons that is not defined by the way our atoms interract with each other, some form of information that a perfect atom for atom copying process would therefore not reproduce. I think evoking such a property is grasping at straws, although I am not fundamentally opposed to its existence. I will, however, need solid evidence that such a property does exist before I revise the conclusions reached in this thought experiment. Francois Duct tape is a lot like the Force, it has a Light and a Dark side and it binds the World together. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=23836