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Originally Posted by Der Fuhrer
This is kind of an interesting hypothetical situation which touches on the concept of a human soul.
In order to think about this, we'll have to assume that several major scientific breakthroughs have occurred. First, the technology and scientific knowledge necessary to download one's brain on to a hard drive and store it is a reality. Second, the ability to implant a computer chip into the human brain is also a reality. Finally, although this is probably already possible, the ability to make an exact human clone is a reality.
Now with these assumptions made, suppose you downloaded your brain onto a hard-drive, made an exact clone of yourself, implanted a computer chip into the clone's brain, and uploaded your brain into the clone's brain. To me, this feat implies immortality. It seems that you could live on perpetually if this technology were available. Would the clone really be "you", though? On the surface, it appears that, yes, it would be you. You would look the exact same, and you would have all of your memories, knowledge, skills, and experiences that you had as your former self. But would it really be "you", or would the clone lack a certain "something" that truly makes "you", you? Is that something a soul? Or is the brain the only "soul", and no metaphysical soul actually exists? If your clone was made and your brain uploaded to its brain, would you be all right with dying immediately after the process was completed?
Although I think that being able to transfer all the information on my brain to an exact copy of myself would put me at much greater ease about dying, I still do not believe that I would be OK with dying. While the clone may look, think, and behave just like I do, I do not believe that it would actually, completely be me. Perhaps that's because my soul makes all the difference in the world or perhaps that's just my fear of turning the lights off-my fear of dying.
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In one way, yes it would be you, in that it would be exactly the same as you because there is no such thing as a soul. In the literal sense, however, it would not be you, it would be a separate sentient being who just so happens to be exactly like you.
As for dying afterword, no, because you don't take control of them, you don't become two people at once.
The fact that it wouldn't be completely you isn't down to soul, it is down to that the instant it is alive it would have separate experiences to you from that point on, shaping it away from whatever is shaping you.
It would still be two separate people.