Blade Runner is a classic of the sci-fi genre, and also an insight and a warning into our present state of politics. The central plot tension lies in the question “how might humans distinguish a sophisticated robot from a human being?” Watching Chris Luxon (leader of the National political party in New Zealand) blather recently, I was struck by a thought – what if he were a human instantiation of ChatGPT, rather than an actual person? How would we know?
This article is rather brilliant...I hope everyone has the opportunity to read it. I have not thought about Blade Runner for a while, although have seen it at least three times in the past. Revisiting all of these pertinent movies after our experience these past three years is a good idea...they take on quite a bit of a different meaning.
I have always thought that if the human body was just a very sophisticated machine that one day that sophistication will be matched by human invention and a "robot" will be created that can contain consciousness and soul...the body is just a "space suit" for the soul, isn't it? So why not make our own, more durable, and eternal, suit for our soul to occupy?
I no longer believe this is possible...and for the life of me I can't really tell you why. Even hypothetically I think it is a hypothesis that is flawed. Soul can "occupy" other "containers" but not really...I cannot explain it...
I had the basic idea for this formed when I read one of your pieces on Off Guardian. Which led me to your substack.
I'd intended to reach out to you about collaborating on it, as it resonated with much of your writing, but yesterday realised I could complete it myself.
I feel we're on quite a similar journey at present.
This article is rather brilliant...I hope everyone has the opportunity to read it. I have not thought about Blade Runner for a while, although have seen it at least three times in the past. Revisiting all of these pertinent movies after our experience these past three years is a good idea...they take on quite a bit of a different meaning.
I have always thought that if the human body was just a very sophisticated machine that one day that sophistication will be matched by human invention and a "robot" will be created that can contain consciousness and soul...the body is just a "space suit" for the soul, isn't it? So why not make our own, more durable, and eternal, suit for our soul to occupy?
I no longer believe this is possible...and for the life of me I can't really tell you why. Even hypothetically I think it is a hypothesis that is flawed. Soul can "occupy" other "containers" but not really...I cannot explain it...
Thanks for this wonderful article!!
Thanks for the kind words Todd.
I had the basic idea for this formed when I read one of your pieces on Off Guardian. Which led me to your substack.
I'd intended to reach out to you about collaborating on it, as it resonated with much of your writing, but yesterday realised I could complete it myself.
I feel we're on quite a similar journey at present.