Condraz23

Hello everyone.

Considering the sheer amount of achievements that we have accomplished during the past few centuries, it is not unreasonable to assume that the technology for human brain transplants will be possible within the next few centuries. Since we would all be dead, this is a purely hypothetical question and therefore, it has no scientific or moral relevance in our current world.

If a successful brain transplant is performed, who would I be? Would I be the man with my body or would I be the man with my brain? Well, scientific evidence suggests that the mind is inherently connected with the brain. If our brains were altered, our perception of "self" would also be altered. If our brains were damaged, our perception of "self" would also be damaged.

If I lost my arm due to a freak accident, I would still be the same person. However, if I lost the ability to think, I would no longer be the same person anymore. If we define ourselves as the mere product of our emotions, memories, and experiences, then it is obvious that the recipient would not benefit from a brain transplant, only the donor would benefit from it.

In most other transplants, it is beneficial to be the recipient than the donor. But after analyzing these facts, it becomes apprarent that the same rule doesn't apply for brain transplants. If I was given the opportunity to recieve a brain from Albert Einstein or Isaac Newton, I would not take it. My brain is simply too deeply connected to who I am. My body is just a lifeless "shell".

So, who do you think would benefit more from a brain transplant, the donor or the recipient? If you were allowed the opportunity to recieve a brain from a genius such as Albert Einstein or Isaac Newton, would you take it? Finally, would you be willing to sacrifice your emotions, memories, experiences, and your perception of "self" for some extra added intelligence and information?

Thanks.

premjan

It depends on how fluid your self is - perhaps you could accept part of his brain - the bit that does science rather than the bit that stores identity.

untermensche

The person with a dead brain but a living body is beyond recieving any more benefits from this world, except a decent burial.

This would present many ethical problems though. Who decides which brains are the ones which get the transplant surgery? Many many people would want it but the supply of suitable bodies would be very limited.

Pragmatista

I would take a million bucks under the table to will my body to anybody who wants to put in a new brain when I kick the bucket.

Wiploc

I saw a national inquirer once, that announced a successful head transplant. The guy who lived, whose body was thrown away, was refered to as the "donor."

crc

4321lynx

You may also think of Alzheimer's as a NEGATIVE transplant, parts of your brain thrown away before the rest of you is. Or does that make you a "donor"?. Problem is, there's no recipient. Just waste...
The paths of glory lead but to Alzheimer's for some unlucky ones & their families. The grave ain't so bad after that.

TheInerrantWord

I think you're looking at it like a brain is being transplanted into your body. Actually, your brain (you) would already dead. The actual operation would be a body transplanted onto a live brain. "you" wouldn't care because "you" would already be dead. "Your" body would be donated to another recipient.

At least that's the way I would see it. Ethical dilemmas would be similar to the dilemmas involved with end-of-life issues today when the brain is dead but the body hasn't gotten the message. Other than that, it's no more than a body transplant. Just like a heart transplant. Right?

philian

I actually read a sci-fi novel years ago that addressed this, and brought up an interesting perspective on it: The elite in society were buying children, and raising them to have healthy bodies, so that when they reached a certain age, the older person would have a fresh body to live in.

Yeshi

earliest i remember was Roger Zelazny in "Lord of Light".

philian

I never could get into Zelazny.

I was just pointing out a possible down side to the idea of brain transplant. Namely, wealthy people harvesting young bodies.