Stephen Hawking: Brains Could Be Copied To Computers To Allow Life After Death

Discussion in 'Science' started by Agent_286, Sep 27, 2013.

  1. Agent_286

    Agent_286 New Member

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    Stephen Hawking: Brains Could Be Copied To Computers To Allow Life After Death

    Huffington Post | By Meredith Bennett-Smith | 09/25/2013 11:38 am EDT
    Excerpts:

    “Could your brain keep on living even after your body dies? Sounds like science fiction, but celebrated theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking recently suggested that technology could make it possible.

    "I think the brain is like a program in the mind, which is like a computer," Hawking said last week during an appearance at the Cambridge Film Festival, The Telegraph reported. "So it's theoretically possible to copy the brain on to a computer and so provide a form of life after death."

    He acknowledged that such a feat lies "beyond our present capabilities," adding that "the conventional afterlife is a fairy tale for people afraid of the dark."

    Hawking, 71, made the remarks in conjunction with the premiere of a new documentary about his life.

    He has spoken previously about what he calls the "fairy story" of heaven and the afterlife. Likening the human brain to a computer whose components will fail, he said, "There is no heaven or afterlife for broken-down computers."

    Some people are actively working to develop technology that would permit the migration of brain functions into a computer. Russian multi-millionaire Dmitry Itskov, for one, hopes someday to upload the contents of a brain into a lifelike robot body as part of his 2045 Initiative, The New York Times reported recently.

    A separate research group, called the Brain Preservation Foundation, is working to develop a process to preserve the brain along with its memories, emotions and consciousness. Called chemical fixation and plastic embedding, the process involves converting the brain into plastic, carving it up into tiny slices, and then reconstructing its three-dimensional structure in a computer.”

    (Hat tip, Raw Story)

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/...r-death_n_3977682.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
    .......

    IMO: Hawkings may be living in a fantasy land of his own wishes of eternal sleep with no beginning or end, when others are motivated in life by their belief that there is a happy ending to the road we all lead in life to eternal happiness in heaven.

    Who knows, Hawkings may be a long distance runner in Heaven after his demise here on Earth, configurating how fast he must run per kilometer to be the supreme winner of every race they hold in Heaven, because Hawkings must be extremely competitive to allow his brain to work out such profound facts as he does here on Earth.

    To be completely fair, I think Hawkings should agree to let us know if he arrived in Heaven, or is he in some holding place, working out on the elliptical trainer and doing push-ups while God reads his resume’...at least I would like to think that...:smile:
     
  2. DonGlock26

    DonGlock26 New Member Past Donor

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    This is hardly a new idea.
     
  3. Agent_286

    Agent_286 New Member

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    ......

    Feeling a little down today? Has your political party been active in demonstrating your views, needs, and wishes for a productive Congress and a progressive government? No? Getting ready for another big republican cave-in with Boehner crying like hell?

    Don't feel bad...there is always 2014...oh wait....
     
  4. BestViewedWithCable

    BestViewedWithCable Well-Known Member

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    how much is this going to increase the cost of healthcare?
     
  5. Brewskier

    Brewskier Well-Known Member

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    Who cares? It'll be FREE from the Government at that point.
     
  6. BestViewedWithCable

    BestViewedWithCable Well-Known Member

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    People keep using this word, "free". I dont think it means what you think it means.....

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    People keep using this word, "free". I dont think it means what you think it means.....
     
  7. Yosh Shmenge

    Yosh Shmenge New Member

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    Amusing that Hawking rejects an immortal transcendent soul but thinks residing disembodied in a computer for eternity somewhere would be wonderful.
     
    TrackerSam likes this.
  8. Brewskier

    Brewskier Well-Known Member

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    It means I don't have to pay for it. FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
     
  9. stekim

    stekim New Member

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    Well, only one is theoretically possible, so......
     
  10. MeshugeMikey

    MeshugeMikey New Member

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    nor a sensible one.

    "science" has no idea what thought consists of and yet......

    "science doesnt know how memories as stored

    speculation based on ignorance leads nowhere but around in circles

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    Rachel Jenatel has assured us that Obama GONNA pay FOR evuhreebuddy BRAIN upload.
     
  11. Ctrl

    Ctrl Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Sounds like hell to me. Both thinking in a computer, and running races for eternity... very... Sisyphus. This was sort of the Greek idea of hell really... pushing that boulder up a mountain for eternity. Fruitless, pointless labor.

    People need interaction and stimulation. Sounds like a prison to me. Stuck on the internet, hoping nobody hacks your being... or tucked away somewhere, dragged out by humans in times of desparation... like a haunting. How do you turn your parents off? Isolation or manipulation... no thanks. If it is a computer, it can be hacked. I find people, and their lifespan, close to perfect. Extending longevity should be thought of in decades, not centuries. We need new blood.
     
  12. Agent_286

    Agent_286 New Member

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    ......

    BVWC: Deliberately derailing threads 10 points 3 months
     
  13. conhog

    conhog Banned

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    So one theoretical possibility is more viable than another? LOL
     
  14. MeshugeMikey

    MeshugeMikey New Member

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    can anyone post any verifiable information as to what "science" thinks the stuff ....the data...of THOUGH might be?

    Im a very VERY patient man and can wait ..........for eternity iif need be ....for an answer. .......s/.
     
  15. Defengar

    Defengar New Member

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    With something like this you could also have your computer mind put into a robot body and still travel around and experience all the sensations of life, hell you could probably increase the sensations.

    However I don't like this for a different reason. IMO, if you "download" your brain to a computer, its not you. You are still you, and there is just a computer out there with the same memories, thoughts, and feelings that acts like you. I think the mind is something that can never wholly be disconnected from biology without losing something.
    I think augmenting the brain with computer parts, and possibly even moving it to an android body makes far more sense and makes me less uncomfortable.
     
  16. stekim

    stekim New Member

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    Of course. Computers are known by most people to actually exist. Hence, given their known existence what Hawking is saying is indeed theoretically possible. You are welcome!
     
  17. Yosh Shmenge

    Yosh Shmenge New Member

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  18. BestViewedWithCable

    BestViewedWithCable Well-Known Member

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    look whose typing.....

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    look whose typing.....
     
  19. conhog

    conhog Banned

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    Oh I see.

    So if I theorized that an as of now unknown computer created the universe, you would find that more credible than if I said an unknown deity created the universe?
     
  20. stekim

    stekim New Member

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    Nope. Because the odds of either are 0%. Physics bro.
     
  21. Oldyoungin

    Oldyoungin Well-Known Member

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    Try to stay on topic , your post was not . Off topic posting is against forum rules .

    Anyways , sounds like a cool concept .
     
  22. MeshugeMikey

    MeshugeMikey New Member

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    Hawkings JIVING

    hes leaving most of the math"....out of the "equation" .

    where is there any data to support "sciences" most meager understanding of what thought is on the very real Physical World?

    what is it...where is it stored.... ? nada

    claims like this...are simply parlor game material.
     
  23. conhog

    conhog Banned

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    What are you talking about? If it theoretically possible to put a human brain into a computer, it is equally possible that that has already been done. Perhaps the universe is a giant Matrix, and none of us even have bodies to begin with.

    If something is possible in the future, it has to be equally possible that it already happened. So , if one is possible the other MUST be possible.

    So , if you were consistent you would have to admit that yes you believe it IS possible that all of or brains are inside a giant computer right now.
     
  24. stekim

    stekim New Member

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    They might be. But that is not what you asked me!
     
  25. conhog

    conhog Banned

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    LOL whatever man.

    You're more willing to believe that we are in a giant computer now than you are to believe in a supreme being. Yes or no?
     

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