| The philosophy of time plays into this question heavily. Remembering what I said about eternalism, it suddenly strikes me that, if presentism is true (only the present exists, past and future are illusions of language, imaginary fictions), then we are all liars right now for passing ourselves off for the same being we perceived ourselves to be a day before.
I am going to state both positions again as clearly as possible.
Eternalism states past, present, and future exist at the same time because all instants are taking place at the same time in four-dimensional space-time. So, if I say I am the same Morality Games who was on this board yesterday, then I am technically lying, as those Morality Games are still suspended in their respective instants.
Presentism states past and future are illusions and only the present exists because only one instant is taking place in three-dimensional space-time. So, if I say I am the same Morality Games who was on this board yesterday, then I am technically lying, as those Morality Games stopped existing in the span of an instant.
The only common features between me and those other Morality Games are the same ones between me and the clone. Aka, memories, behavioral habits, abilities, style, etc.
So how is the relationship between the clone and myself different from past incarnations and myself?
Based on appearances, it looks like either eternalism or presentism must be true. One or the other.
A moral being is an entity for whom the disadvantage of others is an issue.
– K.H.Y. |