consciousness survival?

Ask Ray | How can my consciousness survive indefinitely?

August 23, 2013

Dear Ray,

Should my brain be downloaded into a computer, my consciousness would not follow along, since if it did, I — the conscious I that I know and love — would be in two different places at once, both in my body and in the computer, presumably a contradiction of some sort, and the I in the computer may think and react identically to me and it may live hundreds of years, or more, but he will of course have different experiences than I will have, beginning at the time of the download.

(credit: iStockphoto)

So I myself, which is to say my conscious self, will not enjoy the advantages of being supported by the hardware that contains my brain and my other self.

It appears that the only way for my consciousness to survive indefinitely is for me to have a brain transplant.

What have been your thoughts about this problem?

Thanks,
Robert