I feel this is a question I must pose to myself. I am a eukaryote, animal, mammal, primate and human, but none of these things define my individuality. There is so much of me I can lose, and still be me. I can lose my hand, my foot, my lungs and even my heart and still be myself.
I used to think I was a flesh machine powered by an everlasting soul where I was. I imagined my soul and physical body were linked, but the soul was where the real me resided. But without a soul I am relinquished to rethink my position.
I am inclined to think mostly that I am a composition of my genetic being and my memories and experiences stored within. I am quite certain that if I was able to upload my every memory to a machine that it would not be me, although it is a nice sentiment. Even into another body I don't think it would be me even if it thought it was me. I think it's quite obvious that if we could transplant the mind of a professional athlete into my body, it would cut his career short. So would it still be them? Or would some of me still exist?
Even now, as I replace and replenish the cells throughout my body I wonder if I am even the me I was years ago? If every atom has been replaced, am I still me? Or do I only think I am the same me?
Would it be the same if I slowly replaced my physical body with digital parts until all that was left was an immortal consciousness? I imagine it would be incredibly difficult to perceive such a slow change and maybe that is a hope for a future in which each of us can experience a meaningful eternity. I have been unable to acknowledge my exchange of matter as a progression to a new self up until the point I considered all of this.
I have often speculated that if teleportation were possible, it would actually be the death of one consciousness and the creation of a new one which only thought it was the original.
What I think is most meaningful of all these questions is I am privileged to be of the only species which can even ask them. It is astounding that I am no where near the apex of intellect for our kind, yet I can ponder on such things and it leads me to wonder: what other questions are waiting to be mulled over which have yet to be even thought of? Because I know that aside from scientific knowledge, there is more of me to be discovered.
One day I will cease to exist and for me, everything will cease to exist because I will be unable to observe anything. The feel of the sand on the beach. The wind moving through the trees, the smell of a home cooked meal, the feeling of deep love i get when i see my wife, all of it will be gone someday. I am existing now in a small fraction of my eternity because I am experiencing everything I will ever know, or be able to know.
Regardless of what I am, I am.
I hope that everyone can enjoy their journey to self discovery as much as I am and that mine is lifelong, not for the sake of busywork, but because there is simply that much for me to learn about myself.
I used to think I was a flesh machine powered by an everlasting soul where I was. I imagined my soul and physical body were linked, but the soul was where the real me resided. But without a soul I am relinquished to rethink my position.
I am inclined to think mostly that I am a composition of my genetic being and my memories and experiences stored within. I am quite certain that if I was able to upload my every memory to a machine that it would not be me, although it is a nice sentiment. Even into another body I don't think it would be me even if it thought it was me. I think it's quite obvious that if we could transplant the mind of a professional athlete into my body, it would cut his career short. So would it still be them? Or would some of me still exist?
Even now, as I replace and replenish the cells throughout my body I wonder if I am even the me I was years ago? If every atom has been replaced, am I still me? Or do I only think I am the same me?
Would it be the same if I slowly replaced my physical body with digital parts until all that was left was an immortal consciousness? I imagine it would be incredibly difficult to perceive such a slow change and maybe that is a hope for a future in which each of us can experience a meaningful eternity. I have been unable to acknowledge my exchange of matter as a progression to a new self up until the point I considered all of this.
I have often speculated that if teleportation were possible, it would actually be the death of one consciousness and the creation of a new one which only thought it was the original.
What I think is most meaningful of all these questions is I am privileged to be of the only species which can even ask them. It is astounding that I am no where near the apex of intellect for our kind, yet I can ponder on such things and it leads me to wonder: what other questions are waiting to be mulled over which have yet to be even thought of? Because I know that aside from scientific knowledge, there is more of me to be discovered.
One day I will cease to exist and for me, everything will cease to exist because I will be unable to observe anything. The feel of the sand on the beach. The wind moving through the trees, the smell of a home cooked meal, the feeling of deep love i get when i see my wife, all of it will be gone someday. I am existing now in a small fraction of my eternity because I am experiencing everything I will ever know, or be able to know.
Regardless of what I am, I am.
I hope that everyone can enjoy their journey to self discovery as much as I am and that mine is lifelong, not for the sake of busywork, but because there is simply that much for me to learn about myself.
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