Posted 18 May 2009 - 12:20 AM
ben, I don't know that this is as 100% wrong as you are presenting it. You are seemingly assuming that the new person would not want to be the person they have been made into. Not necessarily true. The AI/clone would have a role in life to comfort and instruct his "son" much as the real individual would if he could be there. The person would have the rights and privileges of a human being, could choose to remain with their "son" or to leave and be a scientist or explorer on their own.
Burdened with memories that are not his own? Well, the thing is they would be his, at least that would be his perception. It would be a pre-built identity, but not inherently any less valid or real than that which it takes a normal human a lifetime to form. Would some parts be negative or burdensome? Sure. But there would be plenty of chances to get highly effective counseling or therapy if necessary. And in any case, we as normally raised individuals have our own negative memories. Does that make it immoral to bring a child into the world the normal way?
It is essentially just a radically different form of human reproduction.
If you want more literal and realistic information from the past, I'd suggest seeing if accurate reflections can be derived from interstellar dust. Our brains have electromagnetic signatures, and even a slight gravitational effect (each dendrite has mass, after all). It may be possible to decode the information reflected back to us in these minute forms, given sufficient processing power and powerful enough instruments.
The AI/clone (if he chooses to do so) might be able to incorporate the new data into its memory and thus become more authentically "dad" over time. Or he could step aside and let the "real" dad come back separately and form a separate relationship with his son. Existing in duplicate or merging multiple similar identities will probably be fairly commonplace by that time.