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Would it be ethical to upload a human mind into a computer?

Would it be ethical to upload a human mind into a computer?

  • Yes

    Votes: 13 100.0%
  • No

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    13

Luna Tick

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This technology may exist some day. What if you could upload a human mind into a computer, making it possible for a program to run that mind? It could think and speak exactly like the person who the mind was uploaded from, but would only exist in the computer and software. It would have no body to move around in and interact with people in the normal way. However, when running it could speak with people. If we had had this technology years ago we could have stored the minds of George Washington, Albert Einstein, and others. However, people could also have stored Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot.

Would it be ethical to upload a mind into a computer? Vote.
 
I suppose, but why screw up a perfectly good computer?
 
I'm assuming by mind you mean their concsiousness, personality, and memories......why wouldn't it be ethical if done with the consent of the uploader?
 
With consent.

Upload into a Computer is one thing. but what about down loading a Computer into a human brain, as in the TV show Chuck which is a very fascinating question to consider.

Think about being given back your memories after a head injury and in Congresswoman Gifford.

Every few years you could update your memories and if the need came up like Alzheimer's you're all set until those memories fade.
 
Or like in The Matrix where you could learn how to fly a very specific helicopter in a matter of seconds.

"What if you are able to upload a human mind into a computer, and have a program be able to run that human mind." In essence, what was the point of uploading the human mind if you are going to have a computer program control it? In my opinion, there is not point. What would make more logical sense, would be to upload the human mind into a computer and let the human mind operate the computer. In essence, you are extending the lifespan of that human mind. Now is it right or wrong? There is no right or wrong answer to this, as there are countless theories of ethics in Philosophy. It just depends on what school of thought you follow. I think what makes more sense is to be able to download information directly into the brain. You could go through 12 years of school in a matter of days. To me, that makes the most sense.
 
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This has been the subject of a lot of science fiction and speculative futurism, with all manner of plot twists and deep philosophical questions. Whole books can and have been written on the various issues surrounding such a technology.

The kicker, of course, is that the possibility of this becoming a REAL technology within the lifespan of some of those reading, is more possible than many would have believed 30 years ago.

It strikes at the heart of the fundamental question so beloved by sci-fi writer Phillip K Dick, "What makes you, YOU?"

If they can upload your brain into a computer without destroying the brain, and you now have meat-you and computer-you, which is the real you?
If it requires the brain to be destructively processed, destroying meat-you, is the computer-you now the REAL-you?
Where does your soul go, assuming you believe in one?
If the uploaded brain can now be downloaded into a clone, is the clone now REAL-you... or a different person? And again, where did the soul (if you...etc) go?

Would a computer-you have all the characteristics of REAL-you....... or would there be something lacking? Some subtle spark of creativity, self-will, sapience? Is there something in the "YOUness" of life than can't be transferred via wires into software?

All these questions have been looked at in science fiction literature.... but there are no sure answers at this time, and some may never be answered.
 
It depends. Impossible to answer without you providing more information regarding the environment in that computer. Would I be living in a "world"? Would I just be looking outside of the computer? What is the environment? Do I have friends in there? There is a Doctor Who episode on this actually.
 
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