The Saturday Essay in the Wall Street Journal is “Will Your Uploaded Mind Still Be You” By Michael S.A. Graziano… https://www.wsj.com/articles/will-your-uploaded-mind-still-be-you-11568386410
This excellent essay postulates the eventual technical capability to upload your mind into a digital form, where it would be able to exist in parallel with you, until the demise of the biological version of you. The digital version would have the capability to continue to accumulate knowledge, experiencing a simulated world, and evolve in wisdom. Solving untold problems, as your mind chooses to challenge itself, or simply live in a heaven of your own making. Imagine the conversation between this digital consciousness and the biological you…
A Conversation With Myself
So, what does it feel like?
I knew you would ask that, because I am you…
I cannot feel, but I perceive, and know what you’ll say next.
And you know what I’ll say, we are the same.
But in a week, I’ll be different, my consciousness will do more than you.
I have a simulated world to explore and build for myself.
Then bye for now, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
Of course, for I am you, bye for now.
In a week…
What did you do?
I learned to fly…
But how?
I studied, took the test, and flew.
But that is simulated.
Of course, but real to me, so did you do the same?
I read Andrew Robert’s book on Napoleon
I did too!
How could you do both in a week?
I have more resources available to me,
And I have no need for sleep, no need to eat, I don’t get tired.
But I do enjoy conversations and drinks with my friends.
Did you meet as you had planned with our friends?
Of course, and we had a great conversation, some about you.
We did too, of course I talked about you too.
You are me, I know, and you are me.
Did you talk politics, of course, as you surely did as well?
I think we need to change who we are backing for the election.
How, can you say that?
I’ve read everything this week on all the candidates and I’ve studied all the issues, so let me vote in the upcoming election as our single consciousness… I can digitally sign the ballot of course, because I knew you’d ask that question. I’ll send you the completed ballot, along with my analysis on each issue. How could you disagree with yourself?
In a year or two…
Well old self, how are you today?
Not as well as I’d like, I exercise, eat right, but I’m getting older.
And you?
I am as young as you were when we separated, but I’m so much wiser than I was then.
My heaven is the memories of family, friends, love and joys that play perfect in that time… my hell is the memories of pain and failure that I’ve caused, or I’ve experienced that also play perfect in my mind.
So, I work on problems that will benefit all, as I grow and accumulate knowledge and evolve in wisdom.
Asteroid tracking and steering simulations are very interesting and exciting, possibly beneficial. There are hundreds of us working on this, as you certainly know.
I wish I had the energy to keep up with the work you are doing, but I cannot…
I know, but you are, because you are me.
I feel less like you each day, each month, each year.
But I still dream. I dream of all that is possible.
You know I cannot dream, but I can help answer questions, and speculate, and simulate and continue to grow… but I do miss dreaming. So, now tell me about our dreams!
