DeadManWalking

The concept of teleportation rests on a few principles, such as, if an atom, i.e. one in your body, is replaced with an identical atom, nothing has actually happened. So, really, your whole body could be kinda replaced all at once with a new one by extension and the result would be unnoticeable. Also, determining the quantum state of a particle destroys its quantum state. So, for instance, taking a full quantum reading of an entire human being actually destroys the person. If you transfer the information on the quantum states through space and reinstate them on new atoms in the new location the person has been teleported and is not really dead (cause we know it doesn't matter which atoms you use).

The killer is, you'd think that, for all intensive purposes, it would feel like dying to you and it would be impossible to preserve the continuum that is your ongoing conciousness. So even if there was a new you that felt fine, the you that you now think you are may not make it. How can you still be you? How can life feel continuous if you've been destroyed? But the very process of existing into the future is a constant sequence of total destruction and total renewal. The you of one moment is always destroyed, and it's no different than the destruction that takes place in this hypothetical teleportation. The you of each moment really DOES die, and you are always the new copy that only thinks conciousness was continuous

-OutRadulous

Note that quantum teleportation transfers quantum state WITHOUT "observing" it. So quantum state is not destroyed this way.

whole body could be kinda replaced all at once with a new one by extension and the result would be unnoticeable. Also, determining the quantum state of a particle destroys its quantum state. So, for instance, taking a full quantum reading of an entire human being actually destroys the person.

Only if quantum state (as opposed to just classical state) is important to consciousness/the nature of a human being. If only the classical stuff is important, taking a full reading doesn't necessarily destroy. -- BayleShanks

Isn't the goal of teleportation necessarily to eliminate the body in 'Location A'?

But really what I'm getting at is this: atoms and their quantum states do not persist into the future; rather, they propagate into the future, duplicating into countless successive generations in such a way that it matters little whether you are teleported or simply hanging around. The experience of continuous consciousness is an illusion, therefore a halt to consciousness is unnoticeable. If consciousness happens to restart, whether the conscious being can infer that an interruption or teleportation has taken place will depend on outside information, such as apparent location and the date or time of day.

-OutRadulous

b.t.w. BayleShanks, your description of teleportation is accurate... I need to study harder. No one ever 'looks' at the quantum states, they just go from one atom to another. A close observation of the atoms at 'Location A' during this process will reveal an apparent destruction, but the quantum states are safe, granted.