Defining The Mind #5: Teleportation, and Transhumanism
Hello steemians and welcome to part 5 of defining the mind! The series with a thousand questions and probably zero answers.
Today we are going to discuss what makes you... you, and not simply the most recent incarnation of... you's... Well, for a better explanation let us turn to a thought experiment.
(Image source: Star Trek obviously)
Suppose a brilliant scientist invented a teleporter. Abiding by the laws of physics this device can not teleport matter, but instead breaks your body down and relays the information to your destination which is then rebuilt with every atom in its proper place. Philosopher Derek Pitaf asks us if this machine can actually be considered a transportation device.
The you that arrived at the destination would have all of your memories and would certainly feel like they were just teleported but is that really the case? What if the machine did not destroy the original body and simply scanned it before sending the data off to be recreated. Would there then be two you's?
It seems to be an argument against physicalism (the belief that everything including the mind is made up of physical properties). But even physicalists argue that it wouldn't be the same you at the other end of the teleporter, and I quite like their argument. They claim that what is important is conscious continuity. That even if sharing the same head if conciousness were to ever stop and then continue it would be a different "you".
(Image source)
So now I have another thought for you. Suppose we take someone with an area of his brain damaged, this person is still conscious, but unable to do certain tasks. If we were to implant artificial neurons and other brain matter into this patient so that their mind worked normally, would they be the same person? Would it be a different mind performing the tasks he once couldn't? If not could we then take the liberty of replacing every neuron if we don't disrupt conscious continuity? Maybe with something a bit more electronic?
Transhumanism is a possible future, but would it still be you?
I was discussing this with my friends yesterday by the pool.
My conclusion is slightly Buddhist leaning. 'You' means different things when consciousness gets involved. I am a different person when I am angry, than when I am happy. I think it would be the same with trans-humanism.
It would mean in this situation that the recreated (teleported/upgraded) you, would not be you. Much like in The Prestige or respawning in a game. The congruent 'you' is a construct of your surroundings. It would be just as tough to change the definition as to change one's own name.
My two cents.
Interesting perspective, do you believe that every moment there are new "yous" coming into this world? Like I am not the same me when I am angry, I am also not the same me that I was 5 minuites ago. In this case would you believe the teleporter to be a transportation device?
You are a new you when you wake up in the morning, when you have coffee, when you eat. Yes. I think so, adding new cells and loosing others.
The conclusion is the teleporter is not a transportation device, it destroys you and recreates someone (extremely similar to you) in the alternate place. It's only when this person gets there and someone says "Hey Alex!" that continuity is formed.
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Heavy duty questions to ponder. The idea of helping someone with a damaged brain sounds great, but it makes me wonder if that would be in contradiction to their life or soul purpose, if one believes in such a thing. Great post :)