The Glade 4.0 :: View topic - Philosophical Questions

For most people, a makeover means losing weight and getting new clothes, hair and makeup.

But what they may not know is that the body does its own extreme makeover regularly. In fact, 98 percent of the atoms in the body are replaced yearly.

Researchers in the 1950s made the discovery by feeding their subjects radioactive atoms. Using radiation detectors, the researchers watched the atoms move all over the body. They found that the new atoms replaced old ones and ended up in all tissues of the human body.

But these atomic makeovers prompt a more philosophical question: Are people really themselves if their atoms are always new, or are they new people each year? David Kestenbaum tackled that philosophical question — and discussed atomic makeovers — with the experts.

Author:	Imperi [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:36 pm ]
Post subject:	Philosophical Questions
I was bored at work and ruminating on some stuff. You are only given a local anesthetic for each surgery and are not put into a drug-induced sleep. Also say, for argument's sake, that there are 100 surgeries for each question. The consciousness I am referring to is your experience. I am assuming that you believe in consciousness, and that there is a difference between your conscious experience and another person's. I am assuming you believe that you live life in first person and not third. If you leave the neurons in your brain alone, do you maintain consciousness? If you gradually replace each neuron in your brain with a cloned, duplicate neuron, do you maintain consciousness after each surgery? If you gradually replace each neuron in your brain with a neuron from your friend's brain, so that the functionality remains the same, do you maintain consciousness after each surgery? If you gradually replace each neuron in your brain with a silicon chip, so that the functionality remains the same, do you maintain consciousness after each surgery? If you gradually replace each neuron in your brain with a silicon chip, so that the functionality changes, do you maintain consciousness after each surgery? If you gradually destroy each neuron in your brain, do you maintain consciousness after each surgery?

Author:	Numbuk [ Fri Feb 05, 2010 6:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Philosophical Questions
Or, if you mess with said neurons, do you cease to exist and a completely different consciousness/personality emerge? Things that make you go Hmmmm.

Author:	Rorinthas [ Sat Feb 06, 2010 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Philosophical Questions
I believe the body and soul are separate entities. You might be able to interfere with my soul's ability to interact with my body and therefor the rest of physical creation, but you can't destroy what's makes me "me"

Author:	Kirra [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:46 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Philosophical Questions
I try not to ruminate, I have found it to be bad for my health.

Author:	Wwen [ Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:58 pm ]
Post subject:
I'm not a neurologist, but I'm not sure that it works that way.

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Author:	Imperi [ Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:51 pm ]
Post subject:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... d=11893583 Quote: For most people, a makeover means losing weight and getting new clothes, hair and makeup. But what they may not know is that the body does its own extreme makeover regularly. In fact, 98 percent of the atoms in the body are replaced yearly. Researchers in the 1950s made the discovery by feeding their subjects radioactive atoms. Using radiation detectors, the researchers watched the atoms move all over the body. They found that the new atoms replaced old ones and ended up in all tissues of the human body. But these atomic makeovers prompt a more philosophical question: Are people really themselves if their atoms are always new, or are they new people each year? David Kestenbaum tackled that philosophical question — and discussed atomic makeovers — with the experts. The implications of this are pretty crazy. Suppose there is a machine that can take all your atoms away, throw them into a trash can, and create your body from new ones. Would you be the same person, or would you die? Supposedly, this already happens to you every year, gradually. If you are not the collection your atoms, then what are you? What is your 1st person perspective attached to?

Author:	Müs [ Mon Feb 08, 2010 3:26 pm ]
Post subject:
The atoms change and are replaced by new ones, but the collective continues. I am Moosafys of Borg. These chicken fingers will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

Author:	Colphax [ Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Philosophical Questions
Imperi, take a look at Engram Theory to see a little how they think "you" stays "you" during all this atomic recycling stuff.

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