Mindscan
Daniela Funes
Mrs. Barnhizer
Philosophical Inquiry
April 28, 2011
Mindscan Essay Death, illness, and aging are probably three of the things humans fear the most. Most of us are waiting for a supernatural pill that will cure all of these things and become immortal. Immortality is something most humans yearn for due to their fear of death. What if we are given an option to copy our consciousness into a machine body, called a Mindscan? This new body will be durable and it will be immune to sickness and aging, in other words it will be immortal. Mindscan would be able to think, remember, and make conversation, just as a normal human being. However, there is a catch. This Mindscan will take over your identity and you will be required to leave Earth to live in a resort in the moon, so the copy of you can continue with your existence. Will you consider this Mindscan as truly you? Will you considered it as a human being? In my opinion, humans posses unique qualities such as our DNA and fingerprints that no one else, not even a copy of you conscious, has. From a religious point of view, a perfect being, God, created humans. Mindscans wouldn’t be created by God, but by imperfect humans. Therefore, Mindscans, in my opinion, shouldn’t be considered humans. The book, Mindscan, written by Robert Sawyer, deals with this dilemma. Jacob Sullivan, the main character, undergoes the Mindscan process to cure him from Katerinksky’s syndrome and continue living for a long time. While biological Jake is transported to the moon, Mindscan Jake comes to take over with his new artificial body. Meanwhile, thanks to advances in medicine, the original Jake located on the moon is cured of his brain disorder and wishes to return to Earth. However, the contract he signed prohibits him from doing so. This creates a controversy because he will do anything in his power to return to Earth as the one and only Jake Sullivan. On the other hand, Mindscan Jake’s girlfriend, is being sued by her
Mrs. Barnhizer
Philosophical Inquiry
April 28, 2011
Mindscan Essay Death, illness, and aging are probably three of the things humans fear the most. Most of us are waiting for a supernatural pill that will cure all of these things and become immortal. Immortality is something most humans yearn for due to their fear of death. What if we are given an option to copy our consciousness into a machine body, called a Mindscan? This new body will be durable and it will be immune to sickness and aging, in other words it will be immortal. Mindscan would be able to think, remember, and make conversation, just as a normal human being. However, there is a catch. This Mindscan will take over your identity and you will be required to leave Earth to live in a resort in the moon, so the copy of you can continue with your existence. Will you consider this Mindscan as truly you? Will you considered it as a human being? In my opinion, humans posses unique qualities such as our DNA and fingerprints that no one else, not even a copy of you conscious, has. From a religious point of view, a perfect being, God, created humans. Mindscans wouldn’t be created by God, but by imperfect humans. Therefore, Mindscans, in my opinion, shouldn’t be considered humans. The book, Mindscan, written by Robert Sawyer, deals with this dilemma. Jacob Sullivan, the main character, undergoes the Mindscan process to cure him from Katerinksky’s syndrome and continue living for a long time. While biological Jake is transported to the moon, Mindscan Jake comes to take over with his new artificial body. Meanwhile, thanks to advances in medicine, the original Jake located on the moon is cured of his brain disorder and wishes to return to Earth. However, the contract he signed prohibits him from doing so. This creates a controversy because he will do anything in his power to return to Earth as the one and only Jake Sullivan. On the other hand, Mindscan Jake’s girlfriend, is being sued by her