Soliciting Opinons and Waxing Philosophically

[theginko]

 What makes you You?

If you woke up tomorrow with Superpowers, would you consider yourself the same person?

What about StarTrek style teleporters... Yes, a duplicate is made but in a very real way the atoms and electrical patterns that made up "You" will have ceased to exist... Or, what about when "atmospheric anomalies" split you in two? Which

Comments

[toast3r]

If you woke up tomorrow with Superpowers, would you consider yourself the same person?

You know, with my intuitive abilities, there was a time when they had to be taken away because its overuse was making me ill. It was bascially the opposite of this scenario. I felt horrible for a little while because those abilities were a major part of who I was. I consciously identified those abilities with my own self. Not having it around was distressing not just as an identity, but it's because I do use them, even sparingly, just to function. But over time, I recovered but I was still able to help people because I think it's my nature. Eventually, those abilities came right back to me without anyone giving them back to me.

So I guess my answer (in my case) is that I would not consider myself the same person consciously, even if my nature hasn't changed. It's because I would not "feel" the same. To me, the experience was drastic enough to change me, the same way when you win the lottery or lose your spouse or child.

The experience does not have to be supernatural to change you. The supernatural just happens to be the most obvious because it is outside our normal experiences.