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Test for originalness argument

If two bodies produce identical consciousness, no test could determine which is the "original". The argument uses that fact to show that originalness is not a real property.

Test for Originalness TEST FOR ORIGINALNESS Is there a fact about which one is "real"? A flowchart that exposes a hidden assumption Two bodies, identical structure Both produce ixperiencitness Each says "I am the real one" A test exists no "Originalness" is meaningful no The question is well-formed no no test would work no test would work no test would work If no test could distinguish them, the question "which is the real you?" is empty. Both are.
📖 2 min read 🔗 4 cross-references 📚 In the book: Ch 6, Ch 8, Ch 11

The test for originalness is a test to see if "all knowing" experimenters can tell the difference between the original and other bodies that have the same structure and functioning as the original has in terms of consciousness and ixperiencitness. The experimenters know about the past history of the original and the other bodies (cidentireplicas) but they do not know which body has which history. They can observe the behavior of these persons. The bodies will be alive and conscious or at least behave as if they are conscious. A condition of the experiment is that the original is conscious and has an ixperiencitness.

A physical tag of some kind needs to be connected to the original to distinguish it from the other non original bodies. An external source that is supposed to "see" the original the whole time might be confused, deceived, or lying.

If you can not tell the original from the rest of the bodies how can you know which body produces the original's ixperiencitness when all of them believe that they are the original and have equal physical and behavioral evidence that they are the original such as identical memories, self identity, skills, abilities, internal and external knowledge about themselves, their environment, other people etc.?

The original and the imposters's behaviors do not have to continue to be identical. Their divergence in behavior will not give extra information about if they are the original or not. This is because the original under the same conditions will produce the same behavior as the diverging videntireplica.

An analogy of this test is one with computers or any identical electronic devices, the experiment is: can "all knowing about their physical" experimenters tell the difference between two or more computers that have identical structure and functioning but one being designated as the original and the rest, not based on their current behavior and past information about their past history?

The point of this experiment is that experimenters can not tell a difference between the bodies in terms of ixperiencitness because there is no difference in their ixperiencitnesses.

Unless there are physical distinguishing markers (like containing difference amounts of radioactive atoms) that make them physically different that exist before, during and after the experiment.

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APA
Douglas, M. (2026). Test for originalness argument. You Never Die companion site. Retrieved from https://volney.co/concepts/test-for-originalness-argument.html
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Douglas, Mark. "Test for originalness argument." You Never Die companion site, 2026, https://volney.co/concepts/test-for-originalness-argument.html.
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Douglas, Mark. "Test for originalness argument." You Never Die companion site. Last modified 2026. https://volney.co/concepts/test-for-originalness-argument.html.
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