Teleportation Safety

[mindmaniac]

After watching "The Big Bang Theory" last night which I apologize for this topic came up that has been perplexing everyone at work. Please defend your answers if possible.

 

[mundane]

Is the scanning technology invasive? Does it require disassembly?
Are the atoms physically moved, or just replicated in the same exact configuration at a different location?
Is there such a thing as a soul? Are they required to be unique? Do they require continuity?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Obviously, the current you exists in the buffer until it's cleared or damaged. Didn't you pay attention to Scotty?

 

[mindmaniac]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Obviously, the current you exists in the buffer until it's cleared or damaged. Didn't you pay attention to Scotty?

While in the buffer do you remain conscious?

 

[BeauJangles]

In response: I would never, ever take a teleporter. The clone of you would be a clone, but it wouldn't be you.

 

[Canun]

Teleporter is supposed to change mass into energy, direct energy to a new location and convert it back to mass.

I'd think you technically don't exist for a while. Or, you have ascended to a higher plane.

 

[Chiropteran]

This *already* occurs.

The "you" of you now is slightly different than the "you" of 1 second ago. All of your living cells are constantly changing in slight ways. Your memory and consciousness only exist in your mind based on the biological arrangement of neurons.


Here is a hypothetical situation.

An alien UFO scans you, and records you exact makeup- every single atom in your body, at this moment. 5 minutes later the alien UFO obliterates the planet earth, for fun. A week later the aliens recreate a planet just like earth, using their amazing advanced technology and create an exact copy of you using the scan they made- from your perspective you would go from being on earth to being on the cloned earth instantly without any memory of the destruction, and you would only ever know anything happened if you noticed flaws in the alien copy.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran
This *already* occurs.

The "you" of you now is slightly different than the "you" of 1 second ago. All of your living cells are constantly changing in slight ways. Your memory and consciousness only exist in your mind based on the biological arrangement of neurons.


Here is a hypothetical situation.

An alien UFO scans you, and records you exact makeup- every single atom in your body, at this moment. 5 minutes later the alien UFO obliterates the planet earth, for fun. A week later the aliens recreate a planet just like earth, using their amazing advanced technology and create an exact copy of you using the scan they made- from your perspective you would go from being on earth to being on the cloned earth instantly without any memory of the destruction, and you would only ever know anything happened if you noticed flaws in the alien copy.

At last, the truth about missing socks revealed!

 

[TwiceOver]

There was also an "Outer Limits" episode of this.

Depends on the technology. Some sort of "matter stream" then no. Some sort of clone/recreation then yes.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran
This *already* occurs.

The "you" of you now is slightly different than the "you" of 1 second ago. All of your living cells are constantly changing in slight ways. Your memory and consciousness only exist in your mind based on the biological arrangement of neurons.

You do raise a very good point: If I replace a single neuron in your brain with a small microchip that acts identically to a neuron, I think most people would agree that you are still you. At what point, though, would you become 'not' you? What happens if I replace ALL of your neurons, one at a time?

 

[xeemzor]

Any answer at this point seems irrelevant, due to the fact that's it all hypothetical.

 

[Vehemence]

Originally posted by: Canun
Teleporter is supposed to change mass into energy, direct energy to a new location and convert it back to mass.

I'd think you technically don't exist for a while.

This.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran
This *already* occurs.

The "you" of you now is slightly different than the "you" of 1 second ago. All of your living cells are constantly changing in slight ways. Your memory and consciousness only exist in your mind based on the biological arrangement of neurons.


Here is a hypothetical situation.

An alien UFO scans you, and records you exact makeup- every single atom in your body, at this moment. 5 minutes later the alien UFO obliterates the planet earth, for fun. A week later the aliens recreate a planet just like earth, using their amazing advanced technology and create an exact copy of you using the scan they made- from your perspective you would go from being on earth to being on the cloned earth instantly without any memory of the destruction, and you would only ever know anything happened if you noticed flaws in the alien copy.

This is the correct answer.

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
You do raise a very good point: If I replace a single neuron in your brain with a small microchip that acts identically to a neuron, I think most people would agree that you are still you. At what point, though, would you become 'not' you? What happens if I replace ALL of your neurons, one at a time?

The microchips would have to be so identical to neurons that they would *BE* neurons.

 

[Kadarin]

If you can't tell the difference, does it really make a difference?

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Kadarin
If you can't tell the difference, does it really make a difference?

In the EYES of the LAAAWWD!

 

[Modelworks]

It all comes down to "Do you believe man has a soul ? "
And if you do "What part of the body constitutes the soul ?"

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
In response: I would never, ever take a teleporter. The clone of you would be a clone, but it wouldn't be you.

Who would it be?

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer


At last, the truth about missing socks revealed!

Actually thats a whole another discussion.
They are actually in another dimension.
A dimension that only consist of socks, pen caps, loose change.

 

[newb111]

Originally posted by: Kadarin
If you can't tell the difference, does it really make a difference?

It matters because it wouldn't be "you" not telling the difference. You would be destroyed, and it would be your clone asking the question.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
In response: I would never, ever take a teleporter. The clone of you would be a clone, but it wouldn't be you.

Actually, it would be. They would act exactly the same as you. They'd have all the same memories and thought patterns. Whether or not I'd get along with my clone is another thing entirely. I might find myself absolutely obnoxious, or it might be like finding a best friend. My best friend and I seem to always think on the same patterns (jump to the same conclusions, interpret things similarly), but we're very different people (analytical vs. creative, my outlet is writing vs. artistry for him).

 

[Modelworks]

If you actually talked to yourself.
Would you even be able to ?
I mean, if your exact copies, wouldn't you always say the same things to each other ?

 

[Farang]

Wow this brings up a lot of philosophical questions.. if you are disassembled and then reassembled exactly, atom by atom, would your consciousness still exist in that head? Or would it be replaced by an identical consciousness, with you, the original, being destroyed? That is, if there was a heaven, you would be looking down from it on yourself exactly, but have no actual control over that person?

Strictly biologically I think you would be creating a clone. Your soul, or your consciousness, may be able to be recreated by assembling the exact same cells, but unless you believe in a soul I don't see how that reassembly would maintain the same person that existed before teleportation. You are essentially destroyed during the disassembly (dead), and then your exact image is recreated (alive). Whether or not the same atoms are used is, I think, irrelevant.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

*head explodes*

heh, very intersting topic though. I did talk about this to a bunch of friends the other day. Makes for some seriously interesting conversations. For now though, nothing can or cannot be proven, but it is still fun to talk about

There was a Star Trek: Enterprise episode about the teleporter yesterday on Sci-Fi. The actress who plays Ensign Hoshi is not too shabby. Rather hawwt if you ask me.

 

[Vic]

Your consciousness would still exist in that head.

edit: assuming EXACT replication of every single atom, both position and state, which of course violates Uncertainty Principle (and why Star Trek transporters had "Heisenberg Compensators.")

And a footnote: the only reason Star Trek had teleporters/transporters was because Roddenberry had to improvise while filming the original pilot because the contractor making the sets for the shuttles was weeks behind schedule.

 

[Beev]

The problem I have is this: Is it really me? Is it MY consciousness? Or is it a copy? If it's merely a copy then I don't care enough to do it. I don't want to stop existing.