If we had a computer powerful enough, could we replicate the minds of everyone who ever lived? Why or why not?

Question

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

(THIS IS A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION RELATING TO THE NATURE OF HUMAN BEINGS.)

The computer would have to have enough data stored in it to take both genetics and experience into account.

Naturally, it is not currently even close to feasible.

But is it possible? Why or why not?

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 1

I don't think the computer would have to be all that powerful.
======================
PapaBear (below) is apparently unaware that scientists have proven that 37% of all statistics are just made up.

I do think that his comments do effectively reinforce my point, though, as does someone else's comment that "we can't detect electrons". Uh, right.

Answer 2

Well I work in the computer world. We are only about 15 years away from computing power being equal to the connections in a brain so I will get to see it. I don't think consciousness is as special as we think and I do think that it will happen.

It will be interesting when we get a solid interface between a human brain and a computer too. They are already working on it and have a few things for disabled people that work. It brings up some interesting questions like could we move our consciousness into a computer and live forever because we could back it up. Or we might even build a new body to move into it. I haven't the slightest idea if this is possible, but it is fun to consider.

Answer 3

According to studies on the human brain, we absorb 40MBs of data per second. That's:

2.4GBs per minute
144GMs per hour
2.016 Terabytes per 14 hour day
717 terabytes per year.

A child must absorb 10 years of data, starting at age 2, before they "BEGIN" developing conceptual thought process. That's 7 petabytes of data.

A male doesn't reach full maturity until age 30, so that's 20 petabytes by then. All with the ability to random access any of that data at a moments notice.

We are already having problems with heat production by volume data storage devices, let alone random access memory chips. Consider what that will be like when we try to match the human mind, which has chemically stored data, not electronic.

On a final note, the human brain has enough available storage capacity to hold over 10,000 years worth of data. If man was meant to live on earth for only a very short time, what is the purpose of all that extra storage?

Answer 4

I believe we could. The reason why is simply because we are biological machines. If we could simulate the biological process that our brain is into a computer it should function as a brain would.

The computer would need to be far more powerful than any that we have today, perhaps a processor capable of several hundred teraflops per person.

Edit:
If you are really interested I would suggest you take a look at the philosophies of Transhumanism and their explanation of "uploading" These people have been pondering this for years.

Answer 5

if it could take in every electron's rotation around every atom... then year kinda like startrek teleportation idea. I wouldn't invest money into it though.

And it's not the computer. We can certainly build many Hard drives. How are you going to obtain the data? we can't detect electrons. they are only a theory.

Answer 6

i think if a computer was fed enough thought patterns of a person , then the computer ( hypothetically ) could start to " think " like said person yes

Answer 7

Dude, did you see the Matrix?

Answer 8

'replicate'

-


certainly