If you go through a matter transporter, is it still you?

Question

Okay, this is strictly hypothetical. Just for fun, that is. The only criterion for getting Best Answer is to make me say "Hmmm...Interesting." Got it?

It's the distant future, and scientists have just perfected a matter transporter that allows humans to travel great distances at essentially the speed of light. It works by rapidly encoding every bit of information about the atoms that make up your body (down to the tiniest quantum detail), then disintegrating you, beaming the information to your destination, and reassembling you atom-for-atom. I know, I know...it's pure fantasy. But here's the question: Is it still YOU? Does it have your memories, your hopes, your dreams? Or is it just a copy of you, albeit a remarkably precise one? What do you think, folks?

If it's NOT you, is that person still accountable for your debts? If a murderer travels through the matter transporter, can he or she still be tried for murder, even though it's not the "same person"?

Answer 1

Well, hypothetically, all forms of energy have to be encoded as well. The slightest change in the kinetic energy of a certain atom may cause it to collide with other particles to an undesireable after effect (hell, it may probably even cause the guy to become radioactive).

Now, after the person is transported, is it assumed that the atoms are placed exactly as they were? It would lead to some interesting results that while all the particles and such are there, the body becomes horribly disfigured... We also don't know much about the brain, but I would hypothsize that by some off chance that the brain is in tact after the trasportation, the misplacement of some of the molecules and the structural bands connecting them together can be altered and thus would affect the functions of the brain.

Now, if the brain and all the molecules were transported with all chemical bondings and somehow energy is conserved in the process. AND all forms of energy within the body were resumed to as they were before the transportation (thermal, kinetic energy of the blood cells and various other cells in the body, atomic energy of the cell reactions in the body and so forth). I would feel safe to say that it SHOULD be the same person.

Now, for the philisophical part. If the transporter DOES change the person, I would assume that the brain was misconfigured during the reformation process and thus would have no recollection of the past. I say the once murderer should be allowed a second chance. Mostly because he changed as a person and has no recollection of his past mis-doings. It'll be like condemning an innocent person.

Answer 2

No one but the transporter owner would know and if the operator is told he is operating a virtual reality machine then you could be fooled into thinking you are in a virtual world.
But it would be a really real world. And you would be so close to the original that the difference would make no difference to anyone.
You would be you but you could not know if the folks at your destination were for real.

Answer 3

Lord! You have a very active imagination. I would have to think it would be the same person, thoughts and all.