X-Message-Number: 25324 Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 21:06:53 -0500 From: Francois <> Subject: To Richard, response to message # 25308: Brains & Minds Wow, this is really fascinating stuff. You gave a number of good counter arguments to my own. However, I suppose you will not be surprised when I tell you that my opinion has not been changed. I am still completely satisfied that a good enough duplication or uploading procedure will result in personal survival. I think the key divergence between our conclusions comes from how we understand the subjective perception of our sense of self. Subjectively, we generally perceive ourselves as being situated inside our skulls, about midway between our temples, with some variations from individual to individual. Our 'persons' and sense of identity seem to reside there. We can call this the center of awareness and the qualia experiencer would responsible for it's existence. It is obvious to me that you consider this subjective perception to be the very core of our sense of self. Everything we perceive is being referenced to that center, and no other. Everything others perceive is being referenced to their own centers. Since what a duplicate of you would perceive could never be referenced to your center of awareness, but would instead always be referenced to its own center of awareness, it follows that a duplicate, however perfect, can never be you. This is what I conclude from what you have posted so far. I will wait until you tell me how right or wrong I am before I elaborate further. Francois The Devil fears those who learn more than those who pray Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=25324