A philosophical question regarding teleporters and consciousness in Star Trek.?

Question

I was never much of a Star Trek fan, and although I always knew they utilized teleporters, it was only today I found out the hypothesis for how they work. As I understand it, they deconstruct you at a molecular, atomic, or perhaps even particle level for easy transport, then reconstruct you at the desired destination. I am not sure the level it happens at, but it is of no consequence for the purpose of this question.

The main thing that got me thinking is that it literally destroys the subject, then from data it derived from the subject's destruction, uses the same materials to build an exact copy. So then the subject was killed then then an exact copy of the person is built alive. This has me wondering. Is the original instance of the subject's consciousness lost forever and the rebuilt body unaware it is simply an exact copy mimicking a consciousness that has ceased to exist? And since it is working on nanoscale construction, why must the technology be limited to rebuilding only one instance of the subject when additional materials could be provided to result in multiple instances of this consciousness derived from the same data? Taking it a step further, how can we possibly believe the original subject's instance of consciousness has survived if it can be copied? Which of these copies possesses the original instance if any? Surely they would each believe they do.

Or the short version: How do they know they will not be forever lost only to be replaced by an exact copy when teleported?

Answer 1

First, let's deal with the physics of it.



Unless there's a revolution in physics, teleportation is impossible due to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. The process reduces the body to electrons; and Heisenberg tells us that we can never know where an electron is at any given time, thus we can only guess at it (the "Quanta").



Since we're reducing to quadrillions of electrons, that makes reassembly impossible.



But on to your point. Yes, the act of teleportation actually would destroy the object and recreate a new entity. In the case of sentient beings, it depends on the mind-body link.



If the mind is non-corporeal then it could not be broken down to electrons and therefore could not be transmitted. Consequently, it would be lost. But if the mind were a mere construct of the brain, a complete reconstruction of the brain would also be a reconstitution of the person's consciousness.



But technically, it would be a different body. But since the atomic and subatomic structures are identical, for all practical purposes it would be the same person, and the person would not be aware of the newness.



Hope this answer helps.

Answer 2

You do not need the star trek example to pose this question. All your cells in your body are replaced on average of every 7 years. So are you the same "person" you are 7 years ago or just a copy?



You lose consciousness every time you go to sleep. Because you interrupted consciousness, are you the same person when you wake up?



On a technical level, no you are not the same person, but from a practical legal POV, you are still the same. It may sound funny to say this but spirituality is more rooted in practical definitions than technical description. For example, a legal defense is temporary insanity, and the spiritual equivalent is spiritual possession. They both say you are not the same person for a temporary time, even though that is technically inaccurate (because you are never the same person ever.)

Answer 3

Teleporting is impossible. But if it was, my answer would be...



Humans are composed of three things: The body, spirit, and soul.



I'm no Trekker but, Star Trek-ically speaking, or as you have stated, the body would be destroyed and sent to another destination and be rebuilt there. The body is a tangible object, but the spirit and soul that comes with it, cannot be touched by earthly apparatus. Once the body separates from the spirit, it dies.

Answer 4

Can a Creationary Evolutionist answer? i've got faith God created each and all of the Animals and Us human beings too by way of a approach of sluggish Evolution. for this reason no noises, no Transporters. basically an prolonged grinding climb uphill.

Answer 5

No one is killed. In one episode (at least) we see from the point of view of the person in the transporter. He is still alive, still conscious, and still capable of identifying something in the transporter carrier wave that isn't supposed to be there.



It turns out to be a creature vicious to human that somehow got trapped in the transporter, but for most of the episode people want to believe the person who saw them, but they can not believe him because all the tests they run come back negative.