I have not seen Final Cut but will now check it out. I assume the movie is predicated on the theory that at some point we should be able to learn how the brain stores information, access it, and store and "play" it through some artificial means.
It then would follow we could "transplant' this information into the "brain" of an artificial life form, thereby somewhat assuring immortality as long as this life form can be perpetuated. Imagine going to sleep as "you" and then waking up with all artificial parts so to speak? Are you really still alive? Not to freak anyone out, but I say no. From the point of view of the artificial life form, yes, it's "me" and I've cheated death by allowing myself to die and be cloned. But imagine if the real you actually woke up after all this. Would you look at the new you and say, wow, I've cheated death? No, you are still the one and only you in your mind and therefore whatever self-awareness this new life form has is akin to legacy, not life-extension. In other words, you can clone memories but you can never clone self-awareness. If you truly want legacy, have kids. How convenient, right? :)
- Jeff |
