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Question: Teleportation devices in Sci Fi!?
Even though this question is based on science fiction, I want the philosphical answers only!.
Let's assume Teleportation devices were invented!. I'm going to assume that the way it works is it takes a super-high resolution 3D image of your body and then vaporizes you (you die), then the image file gets copied to the other side, which has some fancy machine that can materialize matter according to the image file's specs!.
But if this is true, then this device becomes very controversial in my opinion!. Because to use it means you essentially die, and a copy of you is spawned somewhere else with the illusion that he/she is you!. I mean!.!.!. people are going to use this device just to get their errands done faster, but in doing so they're dying~! So wow!.
(Still writing!.!.!.)Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I think I'd have to agree with CogitoErgoCogitoSum on this (except for his ideas about souls existing - LOL)!. It would make no real difference to you if "you" died and the same "you" could be retrieved!.
I'm certain the religious world would go nuts over this as they have on so many other questions of technology, (Your guess is as good as mine over what form their complaints might take, but just as they've objected to space travel, medical issues and even our most private personal habits, you can be certain this kind of thing would raise a few eyebrows and cause some tongues to wag!.)
It's an interesting concept (really) and I hope that one day it can become reality!. How KOOL would that be, eh!? In any case, I seriously doubt that religion will have much of a voice left by the time something like this is ever developed - belief in gods and spirits are already standing on weak legs - so invent 'til your heart's content!. The world is waiting for your success!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
The teleportation device you assume is killing the original!. There is no way around this fact!. That said, there are some rare circumstances where usage is desirable; certainly not for ordinary errands!.
Whether the soul exist is or not is a religious subject!. In general, philosophy assumes the mind is a machine, where how it works is unknown!.
You talk about making the copies better than the original!. In the end, whether it can be done is an engineering question!. That said, I would not go for it!. I want to lose weight, I can make a copy of me without the extra pounds!. It is this copy of me, not myself, who enjoys the change!. No, I would pass on such opportunity!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Whats the difference!? So what if I die!.!.!. if my exact same consciousness continues from the exact same moment, with the exact same memories and ideas, with no life-time shared between the two copies!.!.!. then what difference does it make!?
You are only not you anymore when your experiences diverge!.!.!. which would only be true if the two copies coexisted and interacted with their worlds differently beyond a certain point in time
You arent the same person you were five minutes ago!. So really, what are you trying to preserve!? As long as you dont have a twin, clone, doppleganger!.!.!. its all good!.
The only issue is that of theology!. If you believe in a soul!.!.!. then the debate may wage!.
In the sci-fi shows I watch, like the star trek series, the history of teleportation is controversial!. Check out the latest series with Scott Bakula!.!.!. the transporter is faced with fear and controvercy and reluctance by many!. I know that its just a show, but the concern would be legitimate if the technology was real!. There are moral/spiritual implications!.
I prefer to think, though, that the soul knows how to get home!.!.!. to its body!. A soul is not duplicated since its intangible and cannot be measured or copied!. Therefore, either a lifeless body will rematerialize, or the soul finds its way back to the body through the ether!.
And if the soul doesnt exist!.!.!. then what is the issue!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
I never thought of this in relation to death before!. And not to sound religious but Jesus did appear and disappear after he was resurrected!.
Taking the religious aspect and who it was that did it!. Jesus had no blood!. That means he had another way to survive without it!. Just like they say we have to freeze the blood or get new blood in our bodies if we were able to do long term space travel while our bodies went into cyrcosleep!.
I should think it is not impossible And that we will not die!. I think if we are able to perhaps have a blood source there!. Or even have our genetic material information available at the new site!. Then perhaps we can be recreated readily!.
Wow that's just me!. I myself am a futurist and love thinking about this kind of stuff!. Good luck to you and your endeavors!. Later!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Ok first we would have to test it and see if people really die or there is no issue right, so I have a question!.
If you scan me with your machine and then make the copy without destroying me what happens!?
Do I as single consciousness now occupy two separate bodies or are there two separate consciousness's in two separate bodies!?
You must first answer this question before we can determine if one person has died and another taken his or her place or if that person is simply stored as information!.
This is not a novel question in philosophy and in strictly scientific terms there is no definitive answer only speculation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
you don't die, dying is a specific thing!. you cease to exist and then re-exist someplace else!.
it's the same thing as being frozen essentially!. if you are frozen and then brought somewhere else then the "you" though your body exists, essentially ceases to exist then you unthaw and you exist again someplace different!.
if you start changing attributes about yourself then you cease to exist and some other entity that is very similar to you in many ways but not all begins to exist again!.
the moral implications for the physical changes are no different than surgery!. but when you talk about changing the intelligence then you are changing someone fundamentally, you are changing the "you" if you were smarter, you would obtain a whole new perspective of all your memories, you may regret alot of things in your past alot more!. you would want a new job probably, you'd want to change alot of things in your life!. you'd be a different person, a diferent mind, but stuck with the memories of someone you used to be!. this just sounds like a bad idea to me!.
but don't worry, such a device will never be constructed!.Www@QuestionHome@Com