| From: | Erik Jameson <erikj@****.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Fully Active Aura Cloning |
| Date: | Wed, 20 May 1998 20:19:07 -0400 |
>After much discourse (again) on the topic of Cloning and "Aura", a simple
>thought with a complex requirement leaped into my mind.
Let's check it out then.
>Utilize the "Aura Keeping" ritual upon the taking of a particular
>blood/genetic sample. Maintain it with a magician or two or three along the
>way and go through the procedure(s) of creating a "Harvester Organ Donor" (a
>clone without a mind or soul).
I suppose it's possible. I'm not positive, but for sake of argument, let's
say you're right so far.
>Then, as part of the Cybermantic-Like Ritual Magics (which have other, less
>nasty names in other places), literally "ignite" the mentality and spirit of
>the "clone". As the "aura maintainance" was performed upon the
clone at
>nearly all stages of it's development, you get a "True" aura match.
Well, I think in this case you really get into a discussion of what is the
aura and what is life and is there a soul.
What is life? Who knows, but this clone at least has biologically viable
cells which are at least individually alive.
What is the aura? Not totally sure there either. We do know it reflects
the person's emotions and even thoughts. We also know that it is supposed
to be as unique as a fingerprint. We also know that in some way, it's a
measurement of "life" itself. Beyond that, it's not really clear. If it's
merely a matter of matching "colors" it could possibly be done, but I've
always gotten the impression that auras are an extremely complex pattern or
color, smell, taste, touch, sound and raw "feeling."
Is there a soul? Without getting into a religious discussion, I would say
that in the world of FASA's Shadowrun there is. What does cybermancy do
after all? It traps something we could at least call a soul in a body it
wishes to vacate. Theories of Essence seem to assume that there is
something like a soul. So I would have to argue that in SR there is
something like a soul. This soul gives life, at least to more complex life
forms (I, for example, would like to think that in SR my cat would have a
soul, but that's my personal preference).
If it's the soul that gives life, and not just biological complexity, then
no clone, at least no (meta)human clone can possibly be made because you'd
have to also clone a soul.
Please remember that I'm trying to argue using strictly SR terms and SR
cosmology. I would like people to keep that in mind when replying to this
particular message, especially since I don't want to debate real world
religion or philosophy on this list.
Anyway, how can you clone a soul? Even using your procedure, I don't see
how it could happen. I'd argue that nothing would happen. But it is
possible (though perhaps not probable) that the soul could be forced to
split, half of the soul staying in the original body and half going to
inhabit the clone body. Or the stresses of being split or trying to
inhabit two bodies overstresses the soul and it is destroyed, killing at
least the "parent" if not also the clone.
This second possibility creates huge problems. Does each half of the soul
represent half of the Essence? What if the clone was originally a
cybermonster with .01 Essence? What happens then? And what is memory, is
it strictly a biological function of brain cells or is it linked somehow
with an abstract mind or soul? Would memories then be split also? Really
split personalities?
>At least in theory...how's that for a thought???
It's fine up to a point. And it works up to a point. But in the end, it
simply doesn't work for me since I would argue that a soul (in SR) is
necessary for life and that a soul can't be torn apart without destroying
it. Which means that it can't work.
It is a different idea though, and one that displays a thinking "outside of
the box" to use the corporate phrase.
Erik J.
Fight the Future on June 19th!
"Oh my God, they killed Dunkelzahn! You bastards!!!"
