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
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Received on Fri Oct 27 2006 - 06:16:54 PDT