One of the reasons I would personally never get in a transporter is that there is no evidence that the Real Me isn't just vaporized and a Copy Me created at the other location. The Copy Me might have all my memories and be indistinguishable from the original, but it isn't the Real Me.
I know that some early characters (especially in ST:Enterprise) had problems with transporters -- but these mostly seemed to concern safety. No one discussed the metaphysics of the technology.
Was there ever proof -- or even discussion -- of the question of whether the transporter really was transporting, or just creating a heck of a good copy?
Note 2: And yes, I do wake up each morning wondering if I am the same person who went to sleep the previous night, thank you very much. Why do you ask?
TUCKER: Which would make all of us copies.
TUCKER: Here's to a successful experiment.
Obviously Erickson was successful enough to allay the metaphysical fears, since - as we know - most people are comfortable with the transporter.
I think it is unprovable by logic, since the results are equivalent for external examination. Altough in Star Trek universe Einer's answer is pretty good.
Just think about it. By definition being myself, equals existence. If a machine destroys me and reproduce me as I was there a moment ago it might be me might be somebody else. But one thing for sure, that person will feel like I am myself still, and since the memory is replicated as well, that person will be convinced that nothing changed just movement in space. It is the case if I cease to exist and my exact replica starts living instead of me. The impact on society level is low, since the person will live like before know what that person knew. In personal level it might be death.
Being comfortable with a problem doesn't mean it is solved.
And we may take it to a next step: imagine if you are not transported just replicated, and leave the sample body alone, or create two copies. Would you feel you have two bodies? Not likely.
I would say death and replication goes together.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged star-trek star-trek-transporter metaphysics or ask your own question.
Why didn't Star Trek TNG explore the mirror universe?