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constitutes a “pure mind.” One group believes the brain
is essentially an incredibly complex machine, and when
we fully understand the electrical and chemical
reactions going on inside that gray blob of goo we can
simulate it perfectly, given a strong-enough computer.
Others believe there is some spark—call it the soul or
free will—that elevates us out of a purely mechanistic
worldview. Needless to say, this is pretty tough to prove.
Complicating matters further, recent research into the
nervous system indicates that the brain might not be
the sole center of thought in the human body. The
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and vagal neurons there can transmit signals to the
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that mental conditions like depression and autism may
be linked to this nerve network.
Will digital preservation of consciousness have to scan
the gut biome as well? How much of our physical self
needs to be electronically encoded to be
indistinguishable from the original? What is the “self”?
These, and dozens of other questions, need to be
answered before we jack in and upload ourselves to the
Matrix. Probably the best thing you can do right now is
watch “Upload” and decide whether immortality is
really worth it after all.
Others believe
there is some
spark—call it
the soul or free
will—that
elevates us out
of a purely
mechanistic
worldview.PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION (^) I SUBSCRIBE (^) I JULY 2020