Recreating Humanity in a Computer

[The 5th Hour]

This is a topic that interests me greatly, as a trans-humanist myself I have no problem in asserting that I will be alive in one way or another for a very very very long time.

People seem to be afraid if their present body being replaced by a cheap imitation of themselves, ie a robot in this case. The same idea stops people from jumping into the teleportation because what comes out the other end isn't the you of before. I would like to point out one little fact: every seven years every cell in your body had died and been replaced by another cell. You are literally not the same person you were seven years ago.

With this in mind I have no problem gradually (for technology is a gradual process however exponential, immortality wasn't built in a day) replacing all my bodily constituents including my brain by synthetic and more robust organs.

I've written essays on this and I could talk on the subject for hours (I think my friends think I'm insane). IMO the future will belong to the individual. If, when, immortality is obtained there will be no need for the fabric of society and the minds of individuals will use the infinite power of technology and science to shape themselves according to their own wishes. No one will look the same for there will be a million ways to live forever and an infinite number of ways to spend infinity.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

as a trans-humanist

Transhumanism is just the ignorant geek version of christianity. Instead of saying, "God exists, loves you, and will reward you for following his word" its "We'll create god, and it'll be so grateful it'll reward us. All we have to do is continue to be perfect little capitalists."

 

[FeetOfClay]

Except for the "purpose" where "you" are destroyed. There is no transference of perspective. A person copies themself, dies, and a copy lives on.

With that argument, one could say children operate the same way. My kids will simply be "me" mixed with another person and because they exist, I continue to exist. Its crap.

I mean, some people are happy with that. Happy with the idea that, even though they are now dead, a completely separate entity that is, from an outside perspective, indistinguishable from them continues to exist.

Personally, the only instance in which making a copy of myself is palatable if "I" continue to exist with them. I'd just never get into the whole "who is the original" debate because it simply wouldn't matter. Hopefully my duplicates would continue to feel the same way.

No, the whole point is at the point of replication/destruction, the two entities are identical, same thoughts, experiences, genes, completely identical. Meaning you would go in, and you would come out unchanged. As I said, its no different from deciding to, say turn left instead of right, both ways, there will be slight change in specific atom content and experience, but nothing relevant. This is assuming the replication process is perfect, of course. Also, your children argument is completely invalid, for one you even said that they would be mixed with another person, and thats only genetics, they dont have your experiences, making them completely different people

Transhumanism is just the ignorant geek version of christianity. Instead of saying, "God exists, loves you, and will reward you for following his word" its "We'll create god, and it'll be so grateful it'll reward us. All we have to do is continue to be perfect little capitalists."

Also, no, transhumanism is saying 'Humans are alright, but lets make them better'.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

No, the whole point is at the point of replication/destruction, the two entities are identical, same thoughts, experiences, genes, completely identical. Meaning you would go in, and you would come out unchanged. As I said, its no different from deciding to, say turn left instead of right, both ways, there will be slight change in specific atom content and experience, but nothing relevant. This is assuming the replication process is perfect, of course. Also, your children argument is completely invalid, for one you even said that they would be mixed with another person, and thats only genetics, they dont have your experiences, making them completely different people.

Yes, to an outside perspective, nothing changes except location. But as far as you are concerned, the replicate is also an outside perspective. You will never see through it's eyes. Your perspective won't transfer to it. You will step into this hypothetical machine, get scanned, then be destroyed, and something that (from an outside perspective) is you in every way, shape, and form, will live on.

Also, transhumanism means something outside of humanity will transform humanity.

 

[FeetOfClay]

No, as far as you are concerned, you walk into a booth, maybe black out for a second, and walk out.
As for transhumanism, it has nothing to do with any outside influences, the whole point is humans making humans better through technology, anything from resistance to disease to, well, anything.
Finally, if this thread remains just you and me, I'm not going to reply.