Would you step into a Star Trek transporter?

Question

Odd question but it's part of a thought experiment.

The transporter in Star Trek ("Beam me up Scotty!") scans all your atoms and then disintegrates them. At another place a copy of you will be rearranged (from atoms over there).

Question: suppose this could be technically done almost without failure: would you step into it?

What does your answer say about your concept of '"soul"?

Answer 1

Here you might like this variant of the question.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGTleaTCXq8



For your question it would depend on how safe it is.



As for the soul, well i have no cells in my body now that i had 7 years ago. So i don't believe changing atoms causes a loss of souls. Also as an Advaitist (non-dualist) my soul (atman) and God (Brahman) are one so there would be no problem with my soul occupying two places at once.



here is link to explain Advaita

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn5DLp8y3tg



_()_

Answer 2

No I wouldn't because as a skeptic and realist I know that the Star Trek transporter is nothing but a plot device for a TV show. The physics wouldn't work. The machine would kill you and you would never be reassembled correctly. We don't have "souls" and I'm not dumb enough to trust a bit of science fiction nonsense used to save money on building the shuttle set for the first season.

Answer 3

Well, while many of the technological marvels on ST seem wonderful, I doubt I would be comfortable with some of them.



I don't really know about being transported. For one thing, as has been seen, the Pattern Buffers at times get things REALLY screwed up. How can I, as a Christian, be sure of who I am, when someone's altering my molecules all the time.



While I don't hold with the idea of an immortal soul, or seperate spirit within me, it does seem like it would be, in general, too risky a procedure. Also, consider Dr. Polaski. She was once altered, in her case to remove disease, but in essence had her body wiped away, and restructured.

Answer 4

I would. As for the concept of soul, this is the way I see it:



If you answer yes, you are aware that even if your material being is disintegrated, your soul is still out there, being teleported. When the body rematerializes, the soul finds its way back to the body. Otherwise, even if you emerge on the other side of the teleporter, the body may be the same, but will the mind and consciousness be the same?



If you answer no, you believe the soul is as vulnerable as your physical being. That means, if your physical being is dead or disintegrated, so is your soul.



At least, that's my understanding of the question.

Answer 5

Actually, the Transporter, does not Disintegrate them, it is a matter / energy Transporter, It converts the molecules of your body into energy and transmits them to a specified location and then reintegrate them into their original pattern.



And in answer to your question, Yes, I would, To say no for some sort of Moral or ethical reason would be equivalent to saying something like that could be and has been said today concerning Air Travel or even wheel travel.



Saying something like "If God had intended us to fly we would have wings, or if God had intended us to travel by Car we would have wheels.



If mankind does Develop Matter/Energy Transport, it would be because God allowed us to possess the knowledge.



But then again, Just because we can do a thing, it does not mean that we must do that thing.



Anyway a Transporter even if existed now would be kept under the most strictist Military secret simply because it would enable one to go into any area or country with no warning , or beam your enemy out and disperse his pattern (killing him) I mean really, It would have a whole variety of uses.

Answer 6

You couldn't get me in one for all the money in the world, and it has nothing to do with a 'soul'.





You have no way of knowing if your consciousness would survive the journey. The transporter could be just building an exact copy of you at the other end. You would be dead, but your copy would live on in your place.



You wouldn't be able to tell by observing others who have transported because they would be exact copies.

Answer 7

Considering the number of accidents and screw-ups they have, I'd never set foot in one of those atomizing death-traps.



"Look, there's a shuttle craft right over there. I'll meet you guys on the surface. It only takes a few more seconds, and then we'll have a vehicle to fly around in and take scans. We won't have to wander around on foot so the dude in the red shirt can get ambushed by a giant white ape or step in poisonous flowers, or get lured away by a thought vampire posing as his dead wife or something."

Answer 8

But if you were able to account for each and every atom then wouldn't it just be a replication device. Whats the sense or even functionality in obliterating the source entity.



There is no soul, unless you mean to say consciousness. It would remain intact....

Answer 9

Which Star Trek transporter? Original or Next Generation? I'm ST:TNG only.

Answer 10

I would with a smile on my face..you see I grew up in the time of Scotty...

my soul will not be affected in any way,cause the soul don't leave the body when there is no death...

by the way I am now learning about souls...

Answer 11

I'm having one installed in my T.A.R.D.I.S. as we speak. You are not your body (ask any Time Lord) If you are transported then you arrive at the other end. The "many worlds or branching universe interpretation" and the "Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle" both tend to support this as well as the Judeo/Christian/Islamic concept of heaven and the Eastern faiths concept of reincarnation. It's an observable fact that bodies do not survive death. If you do then you are not your body. IMVHO

Answer 12

Like Bones McCoy, I think it would depend a lot on what you mean by "almost without failure".



I don't believe in a soul, so I don't care about that. But I do care about gettin' my molecules all scrambled up!

Answer 13

I'm sure somewhere "they" are working on that technology and I would love to see it a reality. How much easier to step onto the platform and zip off to Amsterdam or Rome rather than having to take those tedious airplane rides!

Answer 14

Besides the soul, would your mental identity be the same? Did you just committ suicide and replace yourself with a clone? Hard to wrap your mind around this one. intersting question.

Answer 15

NO..... but if forced to I am certain that my Soul would be in Heaven... and a soulless copy would continue to exist until it ended....



But If God chose to support such a device I am certain He has a way to keep the soul connected.... I just would not want to test God in that way unless He, Personally, told me to.

Answer 16

It will be done one day. Scientist already have transported a laser beam across their lab in this fashion.



And yes, I would do it.

Answer 17

In the world of the hereafter there is such a thing ,works like you wish yourself to a place in spirit

Answer 18

Depends on the ship. I'd love to meet Seven of Nine.

Answer 19

I thought they recently transported a plant? brb, gotta google.

Meh, must have dreamed it.

Answer 20

Sure I would, and I would apear in your room to take away your Keyboard.



next!

Answer 21

Heck no! Bones McCoy had it right - them things are dangerous...

Answer 22

I would, if it was proven technology. Of course, there is no such thing as a "soul".

Answer 23

Not if a shuttle were safer.

Answer 24

yes i would.

i don't believe in souls.





lol @ 2th. :)

Answer 25

sure, but only if i can transport with a hot babe... mix your atoms with mine, baby!

Answer 26

here am I send me