Who would you choose?

[Phi]

Would the teleported you be the same person? It is the same configuration of particles, but are those particles the same? Can two hydrogen atoms, for example, have their own identities? Are all water molecules the same as the next, in no way distinguishable?

 

So guys, I got these socks...

[Guest Anonymous]

Would the teleported you be the same person? It is the same configuration of particles, but are those particles the same? Can two hydrogen atoms, for example, have their own identities? Are all water molecules the same as the next, in no way distinguishable?

 

I'm still saying yes. If you believe otherwise, then technically you're an entirely different person every few years. Because of PCD, and, in humans, alpha decay, every single molecule of your body from when you were born is dead and replaced with a new one. In roughly 10 years, you'll essentially be an entirely different person than you are today.

[Phi]

 

I'm still saying yes. If you believe otherwise, then technically you're an entirely different person every few years. Because of PCD, and, in humans, alpha decay, every single molecule of your body from when you were born is dead and replaced with a new one. In roughly 10 years, you'll essentially be an entirely different person than you are today.

 

...and I rip a hole in this sock...

[Guest Anonymous]

You have crafted a ripped sock.

Enjoy sporting the look of a derelict, wear it with pride, you are leading the new old fashion.

[Phi]

Nobody's ever heard of Locke's Socks? Well, here I try:

 

Let's say you rip a hole in your favorite sock. And let's assume that you decide to patch up that hole with some cloth that you buy from a certain market place. So you patch it up, but later on another hole is formed in the sock. So you patch that one up too. Then another hole, and then another patching up. Rinse and repeat. Now, eventually, none of the original sock remains. So the question is, after slowly replacing the sock's cloth over the course of a few months, is it still the same sock?

Another variation is the Ship of Theseus. Now, this ship would always leave port, then come back sometime later with some sort of damage. Of course, the crew would take out the damaged wood and replace it with new wood. Now, just like the sock, the ship will eventually be made of entirely new wood. Additionally, members of the crew come and go. When none of the original crew members remain, is it still the same crew? Now let's add something, and say that we take all the damaged wood, and put it back together to form a separate ship, and find all the old crew members and bring them back. Is that now the Ship of Theseus? Which one is the real ship?

Now, taking it further. Let's say you ate some pizza some time ago. Now a part of your arm could be, essentially, made up of that pizza. Later on you eat some fish, and now that arm is made, essentially, of fish. Even further, cells in your body change all the time. I believe that the longest ones live about ten years. Contrary to popular belief, this does include brain cells and even your heart cells. As far as my knowledge goes, even your atoms are replaced constantly, like every time you breathe. According to this, and the fact that you have (hopefully) matured and changed psychologically, are you really the same person you were born? Certainly not physically, and you have changed psychologically also. As far as memory goes, you forget some things and learn other things. Some things you think you remember never actually happened, or are extremely exaggerated, mostly things that happened before the age of five, but some recent things even.

 

There is a quote by Heraclitus:

"You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you."

[Natasha]

Ugh, why do people keep having to make me realize these things ;_;

 

Okay look, I´m one of those people who hates going to sleep, because i lose my train of thoughs.

Why do you ask? Well you see, because when i go to sleep a process much like the one you describe occurs, i go to bed, I wake up, i´am the same person, nothing has changed apart from a few dreams and some regeneration during the night and yet when i wake up i feel like i lost myself.

This is the reason why i hate discussing things like this

Why did i even start ;_;

because (at least from my point of view), it basically means that we are not the same people as we were 5 years ago, we changed entities many times.

 

I know it´s kinda stupid and childish, but i would rather live without knowing that Ice cream is made of pure cancer than never eat it again.

 

This post, which made no sense and is about to be quoted, split up and butchered to no end by angry vultures is sponsored by "orange showers A/S"

 

[412]

It may be identical to me in every way, but we are still two separate beings who will make two separate decisions, and think two separate things.

 

please explain

[Lolimancer]

This is the reason why i hate discussing things like this

Why did i even start ;_;

because (at least from my point of view), it basically means that we are not the same people as we were 5 years ago, we changed entities many times.

I agree, and i'd also say ya just have to accept it man.

 

I know it´s kinda stupid and childish, but i would rather live without knowing that Ice cream is made of pure cancer than never eat it again.

It's not stupid, it's actually a wonderful thing that everyone should do if you ask me. Disregard reality, enforce personal belief (heh).

[Natasha]

It's not stupid, it's actually a wonderful thing that everyone should do if you ask me. Disregard reality, enforce personal belief (heh).

For Science?

[Virgil]

Even further, cells in your body change all the time. I believe that the longest ones live about ten years. Contrary to popular belief, this does include brain cells...

 

http://www.pnas.org/content/103/33/12219.full claims:

our neocortical neurons, the cell type that mediates much of our cognition, are produced prenatally and retained for our entire lifespan