I’m talking about gradual uploading. Replacing neurons in the brain with computationally identical units of some other computing substrate gradually, one by one, while the patient is awake and is able to describe any changes in consciousness and clearly state if something is wrong so that it can be reversed. Not copying or any other such thing.
Ah I do personally find that a lot better than wholesale uploading, but even then I’d stop short of complete replacement. I would be too afraid that without noticing I would lose my subjective experience—the people doing the procedure would never know the difference. Additionally, I think for a lot of people if such a procedure would stop them from having kids they wouldn’t want to do it. Somewhat akin to having kids with a completely new genetic code, most people seem to not want that. Hard to predict the exact details of these procedures and what public opinion will be of them, but it would only take some people to consistently refuse for their genes to keep propagating.
I feel like “losing subjective experience without noticing” is somehow paradoxical. I don’t believe that that’s a thing that can conceivably happen. And I really don’t understand the kids thing. But I’ve never cared about having children and the instinct makes no sense to me so maybe you’re right.
I’m talking about gradual uploading. Replacing neurons in the brain with computationally identical units of some other computing substrate gradually, one by one, while the patient is awake and is able to describe any changes in consciousness and clearly state if something is wrong so that it can be reversed. Not copying or any other such thing.
Ah I do personally find that a lot better than wholesale uploading, but even then I’d stop short of complete replacement. I would be too afraid that without noticing I would lose my subjective experience—the people doing the procedure would never know the difference. Additionally, I think for a lot of people if such a procedure would stop them from having kids they wouldn’t want to do it. Somewhat akin to having kids with a completely new genetic code, most people seem to not want that. Hard to predict the exact details of these procedures and what public opinion will be of them, but it would only take some people to consistently refuse for their genes to keep propagating.
I feel like “losing subjective experience without noticing” is somehow paradoxical. I don’t believe that that’s a thing that can conceivably happen. And I really don’t understand the kids thing. But I’ve never cared about having children and the instinct makes no sense to me so maybe you’re right.