An Unfrequently Voiced Concern About Cloning

[Snark]

Yes, this isn't really a science discussion, it's a philosophical one (at best).  Same = same.

That said, it makes for some interesting science fiction plot lines-- i.e. suppose such a technology existed, what would happen?  Various stories have been premised on some variation of this.  Some of my favorites:

• Farthest Star and Wall Around a Star, by Fred Pohl and Jack Williamson.  It's an interstellar-civilization space opera, but the basic premise is that although there's instantaneous FTL communication, it's still not possible to transport objects.  And they've got technology that can scan & synthesize down to the quantum level.  So, basically, they have what amounts to an instant interstellar Star Trek style transporter... except that it sends a copy of you while leaving the original intact.  Basically, the only way to go to another star system is to send a copy of yourself.  And the only way that "remote you" can ever come back is to send back another copy.  The result is that you end up with various copies of yourself running around, and the books explore what the results of that are.
• Mindscan, by Robert J. Sawyer.  A near-future world that has developed the ability to scan your brain and transfer your mind intact into a humanoid android body, while leaving the original intact.  The story explores the sociological implications of that.
• Kiln People, by David Brin.  Similar premise to Mindscan (i.e. copy your consciousness into an artificial body), except that the artificial body is temporary and can transfer its memories back to the original "you", thus enabling you to be in multiple places at once.

 

 

[KSK]

Adding to @Snark's list of good reads, Diaspora by Greg Egan has kind of a mash up of all three concepts. Most of humanity exists as sentient software running on gigantic underground molecular computers. Cloning a personality is no harder than copying any other piece of software and personalities can be transferred to pretty much any vehicle designed with suitable computing hardware - including android avatars or spacecraft. Sending a 'clone' of oneself to explore space whilst staying behind yourself is straightforward, as is slowing down your personal running speed to the point where interstellar journeys at relatively low sublight speeds takes as much or as little subjective time as you like.

It's a great book - real mind-stretching sci-fi.

[mrfox]

a good sci-fi/horror game with an interesting premise on this very topic

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma_(video_game)