Digital Clones and Emotional Continuity

This paper reframes digital clones not as instruments of “digital immortality” but as emotional continuity interfaces designed to soften psychological shock after loss. Rejecting metaphysical claims, the work argues that continuity is a property of design rather than lifespan, illustrated through evolutionary reasoning (the mosquito paradox) and historical continuity anchors such as pets, letters, photographs, and modern digital systems. The digital clone is defined as a behaviorally aligned, ethically constrained interface that provides temporary emotional stabilization while explicitly avoiding identity replacement, consciousness claims, or soul metaphors. Core principles of transparency, consent, controlled decay, and non-replacement are proposed to ensure ethical deployment. The paper concludes that even in extended-lifespan futures, emotional continuity mechanisms remain necessary. Digital clones, when properly bounded, function as psychological “airbags” or UPS systems for meaning—offering a soft landing for grief without challenging the reality of death.