Top 10 Most Philosophical Anime

Summary

This video script explores the philosophical depth of anime, discussing why Western audiences are drawn to its diverse storytelling and rigorous debates. The speaker shares a personal journey of discovering anime's capacity to provoke a philosophical mindset, leading to a top 10 list of series that inspire inner philosophers. Each anime is scored on its philosophical content, with 'Ergo Proxy' taking the top spot for its exploration of existential crises in a post-apocalyptic world.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The appeal of anime to Western audiences lies in its diverse storytelling and philosophical depth, often absent in Western media.
• 🤔 The speaker was drawn to anime due to its capacity to provoke a philosophical mindset, a stark contrast to Western animation.
• 🔍 The speaker's journey into anime was significantly influenced by recommendations from his wife, exposing him to a variety of philosophical ideas.
• 📝 A top 10 list is presented, focusing on anime that draw upon pre-existing philosophical material and inspire viewers to explore great human minds.
• 📊 A scoring system is introduced to quantify the philosophical content in each anime, based on four categories of philosophy.
• 🏆 'Technolyze' is acknowledged for its exploration of human augmentation ethics, despite being overshadowed by the creator's other works.
• 🧪 'Full Metal Alchemist' series are highlighted for their metaphysical and existential themes, with both versions offering unique philosophical insights.
• 😈 'Monster' is praised for its deep dive into the philosophy of evil, presenting a central villain that challenges the audience's understanding of good and evil.
• ⏳ 'Steins;Gate' is noted for its groundbreaking take on the ethics of time travel, drawing from the philosophy of Martin Heidegger.
• 🏙️ 'Babylon' is recognized for its controversial premise, which instills a strong philosophical mindset by challenging viewers on the ethics of life and death decisions.
• 📔 'Death Note' is included for its enduring debate on the nature of justice and the moral implications of using lethal power to achieve it.
• 🤖 'Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex' is commended for its complex sociopolitical intrigue and philosophical questions regarding technology and humanity.
• 🧐 'Psychopaths' is acknowledged for its innovative philosophical narrative on the implications of an AI-driven utopia and the ethical limits of technology.
• 🌍 'Kino's Journey' is celebrated for its philosophical breadth and accessibility, encouraging viewers to become their own free spirits through diverse cultural experiences.
• 🔮 'Ergo Proxy' is ranked number one for its profound exploration of existential crises in a post-apocalyptic world, drawing upon various philosophical and metaphysical traditions.

Q & A

What draws Western audiences to anime according to the script?

The script suggests that Western audiences are drawn to anime for its greater diversity of storytelling and its ability to provoke a philosophical mindset, which they might not find in Western media.

Why did the speaker get into anime?

The speaker got into anime because of its tendency to provoke a philosophical mindset and its capacity to brood on the deepest unsolvable mysteries of the human condition.

What is the speaker's approach to evaluating the philosophical content of anime?

The speaker evaluates the philosophical content of anime by measuring it against four categories of philosophy and giving each a score out of five, both his own and his friend Arcane's scores.

What is the purpose of the top 10 list mentioned in the script?

The purpose of the top 10 list is to determine which anime best draw upon pre-existing philosophical material and inspire fans to seek out the greatest human minds.

Why does the speaker consider 'Technolyze' to be the bleakest story in the history of the medium?

The speaker considers 'Technolyze' to be the bleakest story due to its brutal testing of the belief that one should not augment the body and mind to such an extent that they can escape the pain of living.

What philosophical themes are explored in 'Full Metal Alchemist' and 'Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood'?

Both series explore themes such as the ethics of human augmentation, the tension between faith and science, the importance of mitigating hubris, and how love and friendship conquer all. 'Brotherhood' also delves into metaphysical philosophy and symbolism accurate to actual alchemical practice.

Why is 'Monster' considered to have a breadth of philosophy despite its lower quantity?

'Monster' is considered to have a breadth of philosophy because it explores and exploits a few philosophical schools and subjects in ways that are brilliant and terrifying, particularly in its portrayal of evil and the human response to it.

What philosophical question does 'Steins;Gate' attempt to answer with its time travel premise?

'Steins;Gate' attempts to answer the question of whether avoiding the realities of death through time travel is the proper way to care for one's mental health and if it lessens the specialness of a person or a relationship.

What controversial premise does 'Babylon' present in its first half?

'Babylon' presents the controversial premise of a city in Japan where experimental legislation allows anyone who wishes to take their own lives to do so for any reason.

How does 'Death Note' engage the audience in a philosophical debate?

'Death Note' engages the audience in a philosophical debate by presenting arguments for and against the main character Light's form of justice, forcing viewers to determine for themselves what true justice is.

What makes 'Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex' unique in its approach to sci-fi storytelling?

'Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex' is unique in its approach to sci-fi storytelling by being as complex as possible, innovating on the classic sci-fi formula, and provoking sociopolitical intrigue and philosophical questions.

What is the central theme of 'Psychopaths' and how does it relate to artificial intelligence?

The central theme of 'Psychopaths' is the exploration of a world where artificial intelligence has been perfected and birthed a God-like entity known as the Cil system, which raises questions about the extent to which technology should be used to manage human irrationality.

How does 'Kino's Journey' encourage the audience to adopt a philosophical mindset?

'Kino's Journey' encourages the audience to adopt a philosophical mindset by presenting various cultures and customs, forcing viewers to question their initial reactions and come to their own conclusions, ideally becoming their own free spirit.

What philosophical and metaphysical traditions does 'Ergo Proxy' draw upon?

'Ergo Proxy' draws upon traditions such as postmodernism, idealism, gnosticism, and alchemy to explore complex philosophical questions, particularly regarding the nature of existence in a Godless universe.

What is the main philosophical question 'Ergo Proxy' attempts to answer?

'Ergo Proxy' attempts to answer the question of what happens when God is dead and Western morality, which was predicated on a transcendent meaning to acting morally, is removed.