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A Reasonable Hypothesis is a 20-minute film written and directed by Jack Ferry. An official NYU production, it is scheduled for completion in April 2004.

The film is a dark satire about human cloning.



What if, through the use of cloning technology, scientists could transfer a person’s memories to an identical genetic copy? We would have, essentially, the ultimate life insurance policy - a second body; a back-up, just in case. In short... we could cure death.



DOCTOR
Imagine having a second body on hold for your entire life until that time comes when you, Bltt!, kick the ol’ bucket, and it picks up right where you left off!

-- Final shooting script




With the recent acceleration of genetic technology, the stuff of science fiction is becoming the stuff of science fact. In the not-so-distant future, we may see such an experiment. A Reasonable Hypothesis is a suppositious account of the first human guinea pig. Or, if you prefer, sheep.

But as we race down this ethically questionable path, questions of human identity signpost the way.



Does the clone of a man have the soul of a man?

More specifically, to use the example, does this "second body," with the identical mind and genetic makeup, effectively share the donor’s soul?

Is it possible to transfer consciousness from one body to another?

Well that would be, a reasonable hypothesis.