The Transporter:

[Kobayshi Maru]

A good point has been raised, although in passing and in a dismissing manner, in one of the ENT episodes, Daedalus if memory serves, that is if you use the transporter even once you're killed and that what lives on is a duplicate of yours, a distinct being. I think this has merit. I mean Riker for one has been duplicated and his copy, or should we say the two copies of the destroyed original, lived very different lives and became different people, in many ways.

So what do you people think? Is it possible that the transporter is actually the future answer to the French guillotine? I mean when Archer asked the religious fanatic to executed him with the transporter, was he unwittingly telling the truth. The most humane way of disposing of people...

 

[Timo]

I think it's completely academic. Nothing is distinct if it is identical. And continuity of existence is irrelevant, unprovable and in any case the least of worries for a transportee.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Mytran]

The guy talking in that episode was referencing was sceptics of the Transporter had claimed, but in a manner which suggested that all such talk was merely rumour without basis in fact. There's a lengthy thread about the subject here, if you're interested.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

The guy talking in that episode was referencing was sceptics of the Transporter had claimed, but in a manner which suggested that all such talk was merely rumour without basis in fact. There's a lengthy thread about the subject here, if you're interested.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[MarsWeeps]

I mean Riker for one has been duplicated and his copy, or should we say the two copies of the destroyed original, lived very different lives and became different people, in many ways.

So what do you people think?

I never cared for the "Two Rikers" episode. If the human body has a finite amount of matter, and if Riker was split into 2 parts, where did the extra matter come from? If you believe in a soul, does that mean the soul also split or maybe another soul just jumped in and took over one body? Even if Riker was split in two, shouldn't the transporter logs show that he formed with only half the matter he had before? What did they use for filler?

Sure, it happened once to Kirk but only for an episode and we could argue that both Kirks wouldn't survive long because of the split but fortunately they were re-united at the end. I would've liked to see the TNG episode end with an attempt to re-integrate both Rikers.

Another capability of the transporter - Pulaski was saved from a premature "old age" death using the transporter, so why couldn't they use that procedure to extend life indefinitely? Kidneys starting to go? Step into the transporter and have a healthy "copy" of yourself overwrite your current condition - you could live forever! Or...do you want to be 20 years old again? Lucky for you there is a copy stored!

 

[Kevman7987]

The problem with the transporter is that it was essentially magic; It functioned in so many conflicting ways as the plot demanded.

 

[Drone]

I think it's completely academic. Nothing is distinct if it is identical. And continuity of existence is irrelevant, unprovable and in any case the least of worries for a transportee.

Timo Saloniemi

Out of curiousity, is that pretty much your take as well on Kim's status post-Deadlock?

 

[T'Girl]

Nothing is distinct if it is identical.

However, if the copy is exact in every way with the exception that the person inside isn't you,, but rather another person with a copy of your memories, then that copy isn't "identical."

Given the Federation's supposed high moral position, the idea that the poulace would permit the general use of a device that would always killed someone (possibly as a infant) the very first time they used it, is out of character for the society being depicted.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

If there exists a soul, then I'm pretty sure the soul comes with you when you transport.

If there does not exist a soul, and your consciousness is a result of chemical reactions floating around your brain, then the fact that you do not notice a difference means there is no difference.

In the Trek universe it's pretty clear that it is really you who comes out the other end. It's a very 'armchair philosophy' debate.

And to answer the question for why they can't just store a copy of you and rematerialize it whenever. Cause your pattern would degrade in the transporter buffer, of course!

 

[T'Girl]

If there exists a soul, then I'm pretty sure the soul comes with you when you transport.

If it's your actual flesh traveling through the matter stream (energy state - whatever) then I think your soul would be along for the ride.

then the fact that you do not notice a difference means there is no difference.

Try this, the transporter makes a copy of you while you're on the platform, the two of you briefly exchange pleasantries prior to the copy being beamed down, at that time you're put to death.

Would that make a difference?

The copy knows for a fact that they're not the original, and you know it isn't you who beaming down. And you know going in that your life is going to end as a consequence of the procedure.

In the Trek universe it's pretty clear that it is really you who comes out the other end.

Yes.