The Boat Scene

I would like to comment on Kusanagi’s speculation on her own sense of self in the boat scene (my rental of the movie expired, so I cannot use a time code).  A fascinating principle she elucidates here is the absolutism of human evolution.  When commenting on the ability of her body to break down alcohol without the disorienting physical effects, she states, “If man realizes technology is within reach, he achieves it, like it’s damn near instinctive.”  This viewpoint is widely fatalistic and thus potentially questionable, but this pattern is highly apparent throughout human (and other animals’) history.  I recently watched a TED talk about designer babies, in which one of the leading researchers stated that genetic engineering would without a doubt be pursued by science now that it is within reach.  However, it would be irresponsible not to pause for a while and consider the ethical ramifications of this new technology.  Therefore, ethical and moral questions often surround augmentations of our existence, but they are by no means a force that ceases progress in said areas.  However, these discussions are more than a formality– they are essential in understanding ourselves.  As a species, we evolve in order to ameliorate the struggles of our habitats and our bodies.  It can certainly be argued, then, that our synthesis of the world’s materials to create something new (and even seemingly unnatural) can in fact be a form of collective evolution, ingrained in our psyches (or ghosts, if you will).  Another point I found interesting was Kusanagi’s insistence on the limitations of being a single being, cybernetic or not.  Despite her augmentations, she has her own ideas, goals, ways of processing information, and countless other aspects that weave together complexly to form her unique identity.  Although it is easy to marvel at the phenomenon of identity, Kusanagi acknowledges that to have a identity is to be limited.  Although she can achieve more feats than many other beings, she is still only able to experience the world through a single lens…for now.