Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Arguments against Substance Dualism, Part 1
- 3 Arguments against Substance Dualism, Part 2: Pairing Problems
- 4 Arguments for Substance Dualism
- 5 Interlude: What Exactly Is the Difference between Our Being Immaterial Souls and Our Being Composite Physical Objects?
- 6 Nonself, Part 1: Arguments against Our Existence
- 7 Nonself, Part 2: The Self Exists
- 8 Personal Ontology and Life after Death, Part 1: Resurrection, Reincarnation
- 9 Personal Ontology and Life after Death, Part 2: Mind Uploading
- References
- Index
9 - Personal Ontology and Life after Death, Part 2: Mind Uploading
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 March 2024
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Arguments against Substance Dualism, Part 1
- 3 Arguments against Substance Dualism, Part 2: Pairing Problems
- 4 Arguments for Substance Dualism
- 5 Interlude: What Exactly Is the Difference between Our Being Immaterial Souls and Our Being Composite Physical Objects?
- 6 Nonself, Part 1: Arguments against Our Existence
- 7 Nonself, Part 2: The Self Exists
- 8 Personal Ontology and Life after Death, Part 1: Resurrection, Reincarnation
- 9 Personal Ontology and Life after Death, Part 2: Mind Uploading
- References
- Index
Summary
This chapter examines mind uploading, in which one allegedly thwarts death by “uploading” oneself to a computer. This chapter examines various possible ontologies which might be associated with “uploaded” persons: the non-self view; the view that they would be immaterial souls; the view that they would be computers, or particular physical parts of computers; the view that they would be patterns; the view that they would be simulated objects. Various problems with each proposal are identified. An additional problem is discussed: regardless of which personal ontology is true with respect to us now (pre-upload), it seems doubtful that one could be moved into a computer by way of the processes which would be involved in mind uploading (e.g., copying one’s mental states to a computer). Finally, practical matters are considered, chief among them being the question of whether one should attempt to “upload” oneself if given the opportunity.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Personal OntologyMystery and Its Consequences, pp. 182 - 215Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024