An animated interpretation of the "Brain in a Vat" proposition

Filiberto 2022-03-23 09:01:41

The theatrical version of "Ghost in the Shell" that I watched late at night had the gloomy and hopeless atmosphere lingering. Although "Attack" cannot reach the height of "2001 A Space Odyssey" in exploring the most fundamental philosophical issues of mankind, as an 80-minute cartoon, "Attack" is indeed a classic that cannot be copied.

The directing, soundtrack, plot and other aspects of this film have been discussed comprehensively. Here I just want to quote a famous proposition in Western skepticism: "Brain in a Vat" -
"Imagine an evil scientist operating on a person. , cut off his brain and put it in a water tank filled with nutrient solution. The nutrient solution maintains the physical life of the brain, and the nerve endings of the brain are connected to the computer. "He" maintains the illusion that everything is completely normal. For "he", it seems that people, objects, and the sky still exist, and his own movements and physical sensations can be input. This brain can also be input or intercepted memories, and even can be Enter the code and 'feel' himself reading a funny and absurd text here: An evil scientist has operated on a man, removed his brain and placed it in a tank filled with nutrient solution. The physical life of the brain is maintained, and the nerve endings of the brain are connected to a computer, which sends information to the brain according to the instructions of the scientist, so that "he" maintains the illusion that everything is completely normal..."So, how do you prove that you are" you", not a brain in a jar soaked in nutrient solution.

Think about it, then throw away your snacks, turn off the lights, and enjoy the movie.

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Extended Reading

Ghost in the Shell quotes

  • Batou: [on radio] So what's the latest word on your "Puppet Master"?

    Batou: [pause as the chief watches the witness on monitor] Chief? Are you there? Come in...

    Section 9 Department Chief Aramaki: He's only a puppet himself...

  • Puppet Master: It can also be argued that DNA is nothing more than a program designed to preserve itself. Life has become more complex in the overwhelming sea of information. And life, when organized into species, relies upon genes to be its memory system. So, man is an individual only because of his intangible memory... and memory cannot be defined, but it defines mankind. The advent of computers, and the subsequent accumulation of incalculable data has given rise to a new system of memory and thought parallel to your own. Humanity has underestimated the consequences of computerization.