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From: DP0N@A.CS.CMU.EDU
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: matter transmission
Message-ID: <3725@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Sat, 21-Sep-85 03:37:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: topaz.3725
Posted: Sat Sep 21 03:37:39 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 25-Sep-85 07:42:58 EDT
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Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
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From: Don.Provan@A.CS.CMU.EDU

you're damned right i wouldn't go to sleep.

all these arguments could apply equally well if this wasn't a duplicate
of me, but just a simulation.  someone kills me and puts in my place a
robot that acts exactly like me that they've created by observing me.
noone can distinguish the robot from me.  it's identical, to external
observation, to the previous me.  it can even have been programmed to
think it's always been me and has all my memories.  (Perhaps they got
them out of my dead brain.)  now your claim is that since this robot
is indistinguishable from me, i should volunteer for the procedure.
what's the difference between this simulation and a copy made on a
molecule by molecule basis?

again, i'm not arguing over whether anyone, including me, would be able
to distinguish between the original and the copy.  i just claim that
the original has past into a state that can only be described as complete,
irreversible death.

let me say it one more way.  imagine that we can make the copy
without damaging the original at all.  according to the arguments i'm
hearing, if you shoot the original through the head, it will not experience
death now, since there is a copy of it.  this is plainly ridiculous.

look, i'm sorry i'm shooting down this neat, often used plot device, but
it's simply absurd.  i'll believe matter transmission is possible.  and
i'll believe matter duplication is possible.  but you can't convince me
that matter transmission via duplication is possible.


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