From: "James Wynn" 
Subject: Re: (urth) Duh! Part 2.
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2003 08:52:26 -0500

Civet asked:
> Do you have any more specific idea why Wolfe thought it was
> probably a good thing that he didn't read this list? As I said, it makes
> good sense regardless, but I am curious as to whether there was a more
> specific context.

It was in response to Josh telling him that the current discussion (a year
ago) was whether Hyacinth was a male chem. Since I suggested that theory, I
remember this well. Although I no longer hold that theory, I found Wolfe's
answer enigmatic - I still do. Josh does not.

As for Typhon's willingness to submit to the same procedure as Mr. Million's
Original (Mr. M.O.) there are some big differences between Typhon and Mr
M.O.
Mr. Million was considered by Aunt Jeanine AND Mr. Million to be *only* a
simulation. She did not at first even consider him to be a candidate for one
of "the five". Only after consideration did she say "maybe he was counting
the simulation". Mr. M.O. was a mad scientist. Typhon was an meglo-maniac.

Typhon was perfectly fine with a simulation of himself ruling where he could
not be physically present. He even had a sense of humor about it. But the
idea that he would willingly have himself destroyed so an "equivalent" could
take his place seems inconceivable to me.

Roy,
Would you be willing to undergo surgery if you were told that you would not
survive the operation "but this little boy here will be receiving all your
memories" (like Thecla did with Severian only without Sev's memories)?

Mantis,
I reeeally like that name tag on a dog analogy. It perfectly expresses the
difference between simulated and human consciousness, and supports my
personal reasons for believing that computer simulation programs will never
be truely conscious. That fact that we (generally) would presume that a
concious program would have no problem with being downloaded to a second
server and the copy on the first server destroyed shows that we all
recognize the difference.

Crush


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