posted on Jun, 13 2008 @ 06:47 AM
I've always really loved ghost in the shell and this quote in particular is quite fascinating, and I think, pertinent even, to this topic.
Puppet Master: As a sentient life form, I hereby demand political asylum.
Aramaki: Is this a joke?
Nakamura: Ridiculous! It's programmed for self-preservation!
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 intentional memory. But memory cannot be defined, but it defines mankind. The advent of computers and the subsequent accumulation of
uncalculable data has given rise to a new system of memory and thought, parallel to your own. Humanity has underestimated the consequences of
computerization.
Nakamura: Nonsense! This is no proof at all that you're a living, thinking life form.
Puppet Master: And can you offer me proof of your existence? How can you? When neither modern science nor philosophy can explain what life is.
The sea of information is vast and that information is representative of our collective unconsciousness. I understand the point several people have
made about this web bot simply gathering words being bandied about the interwebs, however, I think the rabbit hole goes a bit deeper here; this has to
do with our role as creators, our perception of reality and a growing cognitive dissonance in the populous. How much longer must these, my brethren,
be ignored?