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From: pagiven@drutx.UUCP (GivenP)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: re: zippy-clone machines
Message-ID: <2544@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Apr-85 16:19:51 EST
Article-I.D.: drutx.2544
Posted: Fri Apr 19 16:19:51 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 23-Apr-85 01:47:31 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 26


                                 -
Being new to this newsgroup, I beg your indulgence if the following
covers old material.

Being a Sci-Fi buff for some 30 years and having  seen  the  "tran-
sporter" in many a guise, I have often thought of the philosophical
implications.

In particular just suppose:  the transporter malfunctions (they  do
that,  don't  they!) by creating the new you elsewhere but fails to
dissolve the old you here. The transporter operator recognizes what
has  happened,  puts his phaser on "kill," and completes the job on
the old you (for the sake of an orderly universe, of  course).   Is
he  guilty of murder?  Do you die?  Of course, you say?  Well then,
would you voluntarily step into a transporter that routinely  kills
any more than you would sit down in an electric chair to relax?

I think I first thought of this when I saw the movie: "The Fly."

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 Paul Given             {ihnp4, houxe, stcvax!ihnp4}!drutx!pagiven
              AT&T Information Systems Laboratories
 11900 N. Pecos, Rm 1B04, Denver 80234              (303)-538-4058
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"help me, help me."----> squish