Peter Jones writes:
> > > > 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. > > You have to say that, given a particular theory of consciousness, > would you notice a difference. If physical counterfactuals/causality > is important, you could in cases a) and b), since they > all involve an abnormal causal transition from one OM to > then next. Given computationalism, it is less straightforward. The question is independent of your theory of consciousness. Say consciousness is based on process C. I trust you will assume that process C is entirely physical, but suppose it involves God animating your brain with his breath. Then in case (a) God stops breathing for a second, in case (b) God destroys you and makes a perfect copy which he reanimates a second later, and case (c) is unchanged. The important point is, when you are destroyed then rebuilt, the new version of you is perfectly identical to the original and functions exactly the same as the original would have. It seems to me *logically* impossible that you could distinguish between the three cases. 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
