When are we not ourselves?

[FatAndFaithless]

Consider someone who gets a knee replacement. A certain percentage of their bodies is not only no longer the same cells it used to be, but it is no longer even made out of their cells at all. We don't consider this to be a different person for the reasons Irrational stated above. The physical 'stuff' of our bodies isn't what I consider to be a self at all.

[KUSA]

The construction of self isn't really about the body anyway, it's a continual and ongoing process that is maintained through a stream of memories and perceived stability of the mind along with societal reinforcements of the supposedly unchanging self.

So if a scientist could place your memories in a different body it would be you, right?

[KUSA]

The physical 'stuff' of our bodies isn't what I consider to be a self at all.

So as long as something thinks it's you, it is you?

[GrandizerII]

The construction of self isn't really about the body anyway, it's a continual and ongoing process that is maintained through a stream of memories and perceived stability of the mind along with societal reinforcements of the supposedly unchanging self.

So if a scientist could place your memories in a different body it would be you, right?

For me, and considering only this scenario as you describe it, yes, I think I would. But then again, I wouldn't be sure. It's a tricky one.

But keep in mind I don't really subscribe to any one theory of the self. IMO, it's really an interaction of certain elements, rather than one element, that determines the self (and societal norms and expectations are included).

[FatAndFaithless]

I suppose? As long as I am having the conscious experiences from my point of view, I don't think I could consider myself anything but "me." Your question about transplanting my mind/memories into a different body kinda relates to my example about replacing parts of your body with robotic/prosthetic parts. The idea of a 'self' isn't incredibly well defined, but it doesn't really trouble me that much.

[KUSA]

Imagine if a scientist replicated you in 100 percent detail both physically and mentally and had all your memories. You were asleep when this happened.

Both you and the exact copy were sent on your way with neither one knowing which one was the original. Which one is you? Are they both you?

[FatAndFaithless]

I wouldn't really have a philosophical problem with saying that there are now two of 'me,' though I'd wager it would take a hell of a paradigm shift to get used to it. The fact that someone else has identical memories, experiences, and an identical physical form would diminish the fact that I have those things. I dunno, worrying about the idea of a 'self' isn't something that really sticks for me, because it's such a massive interaction of multiple factors (many of which could be unconscious or unnoticeable to us, which raises the question of whether or not the clone would have those unforeseen factors in his 'self' as well), and I wouldn't really lose sleep over the notion that what I consider as my 'self' has to be tweaked or changed, because I don't have a super concrete idea of what that is in the first place.

[GrandizerII]

Imagine if a scientist replicated you in 100 percent detail both physically and mentally and had all your memories. You were asleep when this happened.

Both you and the exact copy were sent on your way with neither one knowing which one was the original. Which one is you? Are they both you?

Not sure, and doesn't matter. We don't live in such a fantasy world anyway.

[KUSA]

Imagine if a scientist replicated you in 100 percent detail both physically and mentally and had all your memories. You were asleep when this happened.

Both you and the exact copy were sent on your way with neither one knowing which one was the original. Which one is you? Are they both you?

Not sure, and doesn't matter. We don't live in such a fantasy world anyway.

We will one day when transporters are invented.

[KUSA]

The bottom line is you are not the same person that grew up in your parents house. Your parents are not the same people that raised your former self.

Everyone is a copy of themselves that walks around with the illusion that you are you.

When you die you don't really die in the sense that you are familiar with. You die atom by atom everyday. When you die in the traditional sense all that happens is there will be no more copies of you being made.

Life is really unimportant and an illusion. Nothing you do or say means shit. You are not even you.