If You Upload Your Mind to a Computer—Are You Still You? BY JASON DORRIERON JAN 25, 2015| FUTURE, SCI-FI, SINGULARITY 23,227 52 One of the most mind-bending far future predictions you'll hear from some futurists is this: Eventually, the technology will exist to copy your brain (every bit of data that makes you, you) onto a computer.
Technical details and exact predictions aside (the concept is still firmly science fiction) mind uploading makes for a fascinating and disturbing thought experiment. If you had the power to upload yourself, would you?
Living in a computer might not be so bad. We’d likely be able to make the digital realm a really nice place for our digital selves. All the enjoyable parts of life would still be available (and more). Think the Matrix without robot overlords or glowing pods of goo. Which is a central point. We wouldn't have bodies in need of goo anymore.
Separated from a body doomed to slow down, break, get diseases, and eventually die, the only limit on this new digital existence would be the health of the computer itself. And not just a single machine. Our information could be spread over a vast network of computers, independent of any one. We could live as long as we like.
Sounds like a good deal right? Sure. But here's where it gets a little squirrelly.
Let's say I opt to upload my mind to a computer: Would it be me that wakes up online? Or would it be a facsimile, perfect in every way except one—that it isn’t me. That is, if I'm still alive, I don’t suddenly have a split-screen sense of “me-ness.” And if I'm dead, well, that’s it. I'm just dead. Even though the digital facsimile goes on living.
I've not read a completely convincing argument one way or the other. This is partly because we don't have a clear scientific theory to explain what gives us our sense of "me-ness." It's still a mystery. But the topic has been long discussed in philosophy, and Tim Urban has a great post on the subject. I highly recommend it.
Also, I imagine some of you have thought about this in depth. (Star Trek fans, I'm looking at you.)
In any case, for the more visually inclined, here's a great science fiction short film on the topic: "The Final Moments of Karl Brant." Few things beat philosophy and sci-fi on a lazy Sunday. Enjoy!
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
what I find funny is that he is referring to all memories AFTER birth....does that mean a human has no memory of the womb? what about music the mother listens to? the movement of the mother? sucking it's thumb? etc etc......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
I watched a show on this very topic, seems some big money are being invested in this, I find it very interesting.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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