[AnimalMuppet]

> It's an interesting notion that the "my-ness" of my consciousness requires continuity – it must be continuous and uninterrupted.

And yet, it's interrupted every night when I sleep (at least, for some definitions of consciousness). I've been out for some surgeries, too, and I was still "me" when I came back. So I disagree with the "must be uninterrupted" idea.

[type_enthusiast]

So, what does it mean for consciousness to be continuous? Is some brain activity enough, even if you're completely unconscious (i.e. anesthesia)? For that matter, if it wasn't continuous, would the current "you" be able to tell?

For that matter, if continuity of consciousness in general were an illusion, would the "you" at any given moment be able to tell? I guess the only reason it matters is that if there's no such thing as continuity, then nothing is lost upon upload (or death, really).

[AnimalMuppet]

See my other post (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30921217) for what I think consciousness is. So, no, some brain activity is not enough.

And, either after sleep or after anesthesia, I can tell that it wasn't continuous.

If continuity doesn't matter, then something still may be lost on upload - we won't know until we can interview someone who's been uploaded. And in death, if you don't believe in life after death, then something is definitely lost - the possibility of restart.