Are we the same or different?

[leo-rcc]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVygqjyS4CA

Couldn't resist.

[tackattack]

Even if we were able to make an exact clone of a person, and I mean exact down to level of the atoms and fundamental particles making up the cells, and even if we could copy all memory exactly from the original to the clone, one simple reason would garantee that the clone and the original have separate identities: the matter from which the identity and consciousness of the original arises is not the same matter from which the identity and consciousness of the clone arises: there are two heads and therefore two separate identities.

I don't follow. Specifically the part about matter from which the identity and consciousness of the original arises . Please extrapolate for me thank you.

[Violet]

"Yes, we're all individuals!", "Yes, we're all different!"

[Tiberius]

"I'm not"

[Purple Rabbit]

I don't follow. Specifically the part about matter from which the identity and consciousness of the original arises . Please extrapolate for me thank you.

Hint: thinking for oneself is a rather natural thing to do!

[Edwardo Piet]

I'd say that's my favourite seen from Life of Brian... I fucking love that scene.

My favourite part is the "I'm not" lol... oh the irony... he must be the only one who's any 'different' lol (scare quotes added over the word 'different' to guard from pedants ).

EvF

[tackattack]

I still don't get it. Are you saying because they are different molecules and atoms, though formed in the exact same way, are seperate entities with individual identity and consciousness? So if self-reflection is key to self-awareness and the product or self-reflection is exactly the same as another, the identities are still seperate becaus the origins of matter are different?

[Purple Rabbit]

A particular configuration of many many many atoms can give rise to an individual with conscious thought. Every new such configuration giverie to another specimen not to the same. The Monty Python vid shows that this is the theoretical part, in practice many have a hard time thinking for themselves.

[Violet]

I still don't get it. Are you saying because they are different molecules and atoms, though formed in the exact same way, are seperate entities with individual identity and consciousness? So if self-reflection is key to self-awareness and the product or self-reflection is exactly the same as another, the identities are still seperate becaus the origins of matter are different?

If you have two of something (no matter how atomically similar or whatever), then each of those things are different. If only because they are in different places and made of different matter. Simply: if there was no difference then there would be only one thing, and they would not be distinguishable from one another because they are the same thing.

[Edwardo Piet]

I still don't get it. Are you saying because they are different molecules and atoms, though formed in the exact same way, are seperate entities with individual identity and consciousness? So if self-reflection is key to self-awareness and the product or self-reflection is exactly the same as another, the identities are still seperate becaus the origins of matter are different?

I think that the difference is - and what matters is - not the atoms themselves, but how and where they are put together .

I think that there are many factors that makes people different. Different genes and different birthplace and upbringing and environment overall, etc. Hmm... am I missing something in your question here?

EvF