Would two identical people ever be able to communicate successfully?

Question

Let's say you know some guy. And you told him that he was going to be copied and both him and the clone moved to an area where there are no external factors.

After telling the man this, the man is copied and both are placed in an area where there are no external factors and they are positioned facing each other such that each person observes the other exactly the same. You can imagine they are placed in a vast infinite white room with no sense of position other than the ground keeping them up. Both men are identical in the sense that they are composed of the same types of atoms and molecules. They look the same, they have the same current neural state.

Would both of them think, speak, act and move exactly the same? Would it be impossible for them to take turns speaking unless a third party intervened? If during the conversation they got angry and started fighting could one of them ever win? Or would it be like fighting your reflection in the mirror?

I suppose this question also involves the extent to which free will plays a role.

Sorry if this is not the right site for such a question. I figure it's mostly philosophical. This question has been bugging me and my friend.

Answer 1

Because the two copies must breath air, the two would instantly become physically different.

This is because, although their lungs may be identical to start with, the air they breath will contain different distributions of oxygen atoms and therefore their bodies would absorb different numbers of oxygen atoms the moment they breath.

Thus, they are identifiable as two separate individuals and would act accordingly.

EDIT See my comments below, in reply to your comments. I should have edited these comments into this answer.

EDIT As per you request, I have copied my comments into my answer.

How one answers this depends on whether one believes that reality is entirely material and determinate. If you hold such a view, then in the absence of any external forces all of the trajectories and the observable behaviour of the particles which make up the two copies would continue to evolve in exactly the same manner in accordance with the applicable deterministic laws. Therefore, any action taken by one of the copies would simultaneously be taken by the other. They would act in exact unison - saying “hello” simultaneously and continuing in unison.

On the other hand, if you do not believe that reality is material and deterministic, then there is room for variance in the absence of external forces. For example, free will, chance, etc..

Answer 2

Identical twins exist naturally - exact genetic copies. What does not exist naturally is humans growing up in infinite white rooms; this exists only conceptually in a thought experiment. The following also does not seem physically possible:

Both men are identical in the sense that they are composed of the same atoms and molecules. They look the same, they have the same current neural state.

So, I think the thought experiment breaks does rather quickly.

Answer 3

Very interesting topic, premise, and discussions (both, answers and comments). I have thought about it myself, wondering about twins and if it would be possible to be identical in all aspects. What would it take to be identical?

Your premise attempts to eliminate all external factors, and all differences occurring naturally. That's what I wanted to do as well but the problem will still revolve around perception and identity. When you duplicate the person, as perfectly as you can imagine (same atoms, molecules, neural and quantum states, synchronization in time, etc), in that moment you are actually creating the most significant and fundamental difference in perception

You can try to eliminate all external factors ("infinite white room with no sense of position" - which is great btw!) and reduce all elements as much as you can imagine, you still create an unavoidable conflict the moment you place them "facing each other" because they immediately start perceiving each other - external factors with inherent differences ("their world" is no longer perfectly identical)

You may want to add new rules and conditions to your initial premise stating that they will move exactly the same, and exactly at the same nanosecond, symmetrically, but you cannot eliminate the most basic element - difference of perception and identity (looking at a real life mirror will still conjure distinct reactions and feelings)

The only way to enforce the idea to the point of perfection in identity is to reduce differences in perspective: in order to be driven and motivated to act exactly the same (as you imply when you attribute them with the same neural state and as I thought about it as well), you must make them PERCEIVE the same environment - the exact same external stimuli. That's only possible when they exist in the same physical space, and have the same sensory receptors: light, sound, touch, smell (all of them)

Only at that point you can achieve perfect identity, but you'll end up with the same person, having the same existential experience. If you're willing to accept this impossibility, there will be no need to communicate because they have the same thoughts. They cannot argue or fight with each other - it'd be like arguing with yourself. You can also argue with yourself, but it has to be sequentially (in time). You can have regrets, feel guilt, blame yourself for your actions but it's futile to hit yourself over the head - what's done is done (who's wins - your future or your past?)

Overall, it was a very good thought experiment: it compelled me to engage even though I don't feel relevant in this field with so many brilliant minds :)