There is a non-physical entity (a soul) in all of us!

[c0n]

Think about this:

If a person is made up of nothing more than atoms and electricity, then a sufficiently powerful computer could, in theory, predict what every atom and neuron in your body is going to do.  If that is true, then free will is an illusion. 

Would you rather believe:
a) that we have a non-physical part that is (and always will be) beyond the realm of science
b) that we have no free will, and everything is predetermined

I would personally prefer to believe (a).  I don't want to give up the idea that I am in control of my destiny. 

I agree. This is the type of science that is called quantum physics though, I think. I don't know much about it, but a friend I have is deep into it. Basically, quantum physics says that ANYTHING is possible. Also, anybody at any given time is both dead and alive, if you don't see them. It's quite weird stuff.

For instance, the question... "If you don't see a tree fall down, does it make a noise?" This is a quantum physics question. I know what most of you will say. Let's see what you have to answer with.

[Ergot]

They are exactly identical, however, when the brain starts up each one would start gathering it's own data.
For example, person A would be standing on the left and person B would be on the right. Now the first thing person A sees is a television, and the first thing that person B sees it a radio. Person A would see person B to his left. Person B would see person A to his right. (Don't get technical with this part, it's the difference in experience that matters) As you can see they have already at this point, gathered different information. The data stored is not the same anymore. It's like with identical twins, they are both the same, but they have different experiences. To further support that, let's say person A and person B has not differed yet. They both go to a party. They would both talk to different people and gather different knowledge/information. And to answer your other question, I agree with rabbit. Person A is not connected to person B physically. So up until you provide life to person B, he will be exactly identical to person A, but person A can't control person B's limbs because person A's brain is not connected to it. Person B's brain is a copy of person A's brain, but it is now a separate entity. It's like backing up your hard drive to another hard drive. The data has been transfered, but afterwards, the connection is lost. The back up hard drive can be stuck into another identical computer, and it'll run. However, when it gets on the internet, it will have a different IP address, will it not? It will recieve attacks from different people than the original computer, and the time that it get information would not be the same a your original computer.

[GameSnake]

I sold my soul for a blowjob.

[Newby]

@ Ergot: What determines the events that occur in a person's life? If they are the exact same, they will (according to iago's post, if everybody is made up of atoms and neutrons then a computer could predict what we will do) experience the same events due to predestination.

Also @ identical twins, don't their fingerprints differ? In my case, every last atom and neuron is the same. Fingerprints included.

[rabbit]

No, because memories are not physical. As you said, everything physical is transfered.

From what I learned in my biology class, memories are bumps and indentations on neurons in the brain, which means that memories ARE physically duplicable.  But here is where Newby's question is hazey: are all the atoms duplicated in the same order and position?  If not, then Person B would have a completely different set of memories and experiences (or lack thereof).

[Newby]

But here is where Newby's question is hazey: are all the atoms duplicated in the same order and position?  If not, then Person B would have a completely different set of memories and experiences (or lack thereof).

Yes. It's an exact replication of person A. Nothing is different physically!

[Ergot]

But mentally. ;P

[Newby]

How does mentally differ from physically?

If they were the same person, and we are predictable, they would hold the same thoughts at the same time.

[c0n]

No, because memories are not physical. As you said, everything physical is transfered.

From what I learned in my biology class, memories are bumps and indentations on neurons in the brain, which means that memories ARE physically duplicable.  But here is where Newby's question is hazey: are all the atoms duplicated in the same order and position?  If not, then Person B would have a completely different set of memories and experiences (or lack thereof).

I personally don't believe that the actually bumps on the brain are the memories. I believe memories are not physical, but more metaphysical.
Btw, the answer to my question is: Yes and no. When you don't see something, it could both make a noise and not make a noise at the same time, according to quantum physics. In fact, if you don't see someone, that someone could be both dead and alive at the same time. Quantum physics is weird. If you pour a glass of orange juice, there's a chance that it's not orange juice, but the chance that it isn't orange juice is very low. Quantum physics is very confusing and very DIFFERENT than any other science.

[iago]

I'm sorry to break this to you, but you don't understand quantum physics at all, you understand the Hollywood version of quantum physics. 

[c0n]

I'm sorry to break this to you, but you don't understand quantum physics at all, you understand the Hollywood version of quantum physics. 

...didn't I tell you that I don't understand it? I said my friend understands some of it.

[rabbit]

No, because memories are not physical. As you said, everything physical is transfered.

From what I learned in my biology class, memories are bumps and indentations on neurons in the brain, which means that memories ARE physically duplicable.  But here is where Newby's question is hazey: are all the atoms duplicated in the same order and position?  If not, then Person B would have a completely different set of memories and experiences (or lack thereof).

I personally don't believe that the actually bumps on the brain are the memories. I believe memories are not physical, but more metaphysical.

I don't mean the big lumps on the surface, I mean on each individual neuron (a few molecules wide, mind you), a series of bumps and dents create memory, much like a trinary system with vally, smooth, and raised as the 3 values.