Brent meeker writes:
> Stathis Papaioannou wrote: > > > > > > Peter Jones writes: > > > >>> I think it is simpler to go back to your own clones-in-the-next-room > >>> example > >>> rather than introducing the complication of neurophysiology (or indeed > >>> physics). > >>> You are informed that your current stream of consciousness is either being > >>> generated by > >>> > >>> (a) a temporal sequence of clones, each of which lives for a second, then > >>> is > >>> instantly killed, and replaced by the next one in the series a > >>> microsecond later > >>> > >>> or > >>> > >>> (b) a spatial series of clones, each of which lives for a second, then is > >>> instantly > >>> killed, such that the whole experiment goes for a second but uses multiple > >>> adjacent rooms > >>> > >>> You have to guess whether you are in experiment (a) or (b). If > >>> appropriate care > >>> is taken to provide you with no external clues do you think you would be > >>> able to > >>> guess the right answer with greater than 1/2 probability? > >> It's quite possible that neither scenario can support a > >> subjective flow of time. > > > > Here is another thought experiment. You are watching an object moving > > against a > > stationary background at a velocity of 10 m/s. Suddenly, the object seems > > to instantly > > jump 10 metres in the direction of motion, and then continues as before at > > 10 m/s. You > > are informed that one of the following three events has taken place: > > > > (a) your consciousness was suspended for 1 second, as in an absence seizure; > > > > (b) you were scanned, annihilated, and a perfect copy created in your place > > 1 second > > later; > > > > (c) nothing unusual happened to you, but the object you were watching was > > instantly > > teleported 10 metres in the direction of motion. > > > > Would you be able to guess which of the three events took place? > > > > Stathis Papaioannou > > Sure, it was (a). (c) violates the laws of physics. (b) might or might not > be theoretically possible, but it's practically impossible. OK, you would probably be right if you were kidnapped and subjected to this experiment tomorrow. But it's a thought experiment, and my point is that from your conscious experience alone you would be unable to distinguish between the three cases. Peter Jones' posts seem to imply that you would notice a difference. Stathis Papaioannou _________________________________________________________________ Be one of the first to try Windows Live Mail. http://ideas.live.com/programpage.aspx?versionId=5d21c51a-b161-4314-9b0e-4911fb2b2e6d --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
