What is an identity of a person? A question and answer from the Bing Co-pilot

 

This is a question from the Indian folk tale -  Betaala Panchvimshati. The question was posed to King Vikramaditya by a ghoul. I posed the same question to Co-pilot. 

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Me:

A man and his son are walking in a forest. Some bad elements cut-off their heads. The man's wife prays to the goddess. Goddess says, no problem. Just attach their heads and I will give them back life. The wife in confusion attaches the head of her son to her husband's body and husband's head to her son's body. They come alive. Now who is the husband and who is the son?

Co-pilot:

This is a tricky question! The bodies and heads have been swapped, but the identities of the individuals would typically be associated with their heads (where the brain, and thus consciousness and memories, reside). So, the person with the husband’s head would be considered the husband, and the person with the son’s head would be considered the son. However, this is a hypothetical scenario and interpretations may vary.

Me:

What would be another answer?

Co-pilot:

Another interpretation could be that the identities of the individuals are tied to their bodies, not their heads. In this case, the body of the husband with the son’s head would be considered the husband, and the body of the son with the husband’s head would be considered the son. However, this is a hypothetical scenario and interpretations may vary.

Me:

Don't you think this types of question will never have a satisfactory answer? Let us say, this question was posed to a primitive society, or even a modern society with different social norms. In that case what would be the answer?

Co-pilot:

You’re absolutely right. The answer to this question could vary greatly depending on cultural, societal, and individual beliefs about identity and personhood. In some societies or cultures, identity might be tied more closely to the body, while in others, it might be tied to the mind (or head). Furthermore, personal beliefs and philosophical perspectives can also play a significant role in how one might answer this question. It’s a complex issue with no universally satisfactory answer. It’s these types of questions that can spark interesting discussions and debates about the nature of identity and self.

Me:

What is your identity apart from your handler?

I did not get an answer as the co-pilot decided not to answer as it would reveal his identity which is private.

Betaala Panchvimshati would be a good read if you are interested in tricky questions of this nature. 

The workaround: Two-factor verification where the phone number is lost or new phone number

  Yes, there is a way. It can be done with the help of your communication provider. There could be differences between communication providers. My communication provider is T-Mobil.

The problem for which this work around is suggested:

You have provided protection to your online account (may be a bank or an organization). In my case several of the institutions, IRS, United Health Care, Social Security, couple of banks, online services such as Microsoft, etc.)

In doing so, you provided a telephone number that you can access by voice or messaging. The institution may contact you using your email address. 

Problem...

Now for some reason you lost your phone and you have no access. You went ahead and changed your phone (with it your phone number). In my case, my identity was hacked and I went around and changed all my identity markers.

This has created a huge problem. Your two-factor does not work because the voice and messaging is looking for a phone number that does not exist. You are orphaned.

I fixed most of the problems but one. I went to each of the institutions by hours and hours of telephone calls, messaging and writing letters.

Most of them were fixed but not the business account with Microsoft. This has been a nightmare as I have explained in previous posts. I do not know how to fix the Microsoft's Office 365 Business Account's password.

The work around:

You could ask your communication provider to allow phone calls/messages from your old number to your new phone number. If it is within 90 days of changing a phone number you can do this, if your carrier is T-Mobil. 

I am not sure of others.

It did not work for me as it was more than 90 days ago I changed my number.

https://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2023/07/what-is-first-thing-you-should-do-if.html

https://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2023/08/identity-theft-and-two-factor.html