The Philosophy of Serial Experiments Lain

Summary

In this philosophical deep-dive, the video explores the existential themes of the cult classic anime 'Serial Experiments Lain.' It delves into the metaphysical concept of existence dependent on perception, drawing parallels with George Berkeley's idealism. The video also examines the blurred lines between virtual reality and the 'real world,' referencing Alan Turing and Julian Moravcsik's perspectives on human identity. Finally, it touches on existentialism, highlighting Lain's journey to self-discovery and the freedom to create one's own purpose in life, inspired by the teachings of Jean-Paul Sartre.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The script discusses the philosophical themes of the anime 'Serial Experiments Lain', a cult classic from 1998.
• 🧠 It explores the concept of existence and reality, questioning what makes something 'real' and the role of perception in existence.
• 📬 The story of Lain begins with her receiving an email from a deceased classmate, leading her to explore the concept of the soul and enlightenment in the digital realm.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The script delves into the philosophical debate about whether the digital 'wired' world and our physical reality are distinct or intertwined.
• 🤔 It raises questions about the nature of self and consciousness, and how they might be affected or even transcended by technology.
• 🌳 The script references the philosophical thought experiment about a tree falling in a forest to illustrate the concept of idealism and the importance of perception.
• 🧐 It mentions George Berkeley's idealism, suggesting that objects only exist when perceived by a conscious being.
• 🔄 The theme of memory and its malleability is highlighted, with Lain's ability to erase memories as a form of self-annihilation.
• 🤖 The script touches on the Turing Test and the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence and the nature of humanity.
• 🧩 It discusses the idea of essentialism versus existentialism, pondering whether humans have a predetermined essence or if they create their own purpose.
• 💡 The final takeaway is about existentialism in 'Serial Experiments Lain', where Lain learns to create her own meaning in life despite not finding a pre-assigned one.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the anime 'Serial Experiments Lain'?

The central theme of 'Serial Experiments Lain' revolves around the exploration of the nature of reality, the self, and the impact of technology on human consciousness and existence.

What is the philosophical concept of idealism as it relates to Lain's existence?

In the context of 'Serial Experiments Lain', idealism suggests that Lain only exists in the minds of those who perceive her, emphasizing the idea that existence is dependent on perception.

What is the significance of the quote 'I only exist inside people aware of my existence' in the anime?

This quote highlights the theme of subjective reality and the power of perception in shaping existence, a key philosophical concept explored throughout the series.

How does the anime depict the relationship between the 'wired' and the real world?

The anime portrays the 'wired' as an upper layer of reality that is intertwined with our own, blurring the lines between virtual and actual experiences and questioning the nature of reality.

What philosophical stance does the character Masaaki Masuda represent in the series?

Masaaki Masuda represents a form of idealism, believing that power comes from being perceived as a god by others, but is later challenged by Lain's perspective.

What is the philosophical concept of essentialism, and how does it relate to the characters in 'Serial Experiments Lain'?

Essentialism is the belief that every entity has an inherent essence that defines it. In 'Serial Experiments Lain', characters grapple with the idea of their own essence and purpose, questioning whether it is predetermined or self-determined.

How does the concept of existentialism play a role in Lain's journey throughout the series?

Existentialism in 'Serial Experiments Lain' is portrayed through Lain's quest for self-discovery and purpose. It suggests that individuals can create their own meaning in life, even in the absence of a pre-assigned essence.

What is the significance of memory in the context of 'Serial Experiments Lain'?

Memory is a crucial element in the series, as it shapes individual and collective identity. Lain's decision to erase memories of herself illustrates the power of memory in defining reality and existence.

How does the series explore the idea of what makes a person human, in relation to technology?

The series delves into the philosophical debate about the nature of humanity, questioning whether the essence of a person is tied to their physical body or if it can be replicated or transferred through technology.

What philosophical questions does the series raise about the nature of existence and reality?

The series raises questions about the distinction between virtual and real worlds, the role of perception in shaping reality, the possibility of a pre-determined essence, and the freedom to create personal meaning in life.

What is the philosophical stance of Jean-Paul Sartre mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to Lain's actions?

Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialist philosophy posits that life is inherently meaningless, but individuals have the freedom to create their own meaning. This relates to Lain's decision to create her own purpose by erasing her existence for the greater good.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Existence and Perception of Reality in 'Serial Experiments Lain'

This paragraph delves into the philosophical themes of the anime 'Serial Experiments Lain,' exploring the concept of existence and perception. It discusses the idea that Lain's existence is contingent upon being perceived by others, drawing parallels to the philosophical question of whether a tree falling in a forest makes a sound if no one is there to hear it. The summary touches on epistemology and idealism, referencing George Berkeley's philosophy to illustrate the point that objects only exist when perceived. The paragraph also introduces the character of Lain and her journey of self-discovery and transcendence in a digital world, hinting at the show's exploration of the blurred lines between reality and the digital realm.

05:00

🧠 The Philosophy of Self and Consciousness in 'Serial Experiments Lain'

This paragraph examines the philosophical implications of self-identity and consciousness in 'Serial Experiments Lain.' It discusses the Turing Test and the idea of machines potentially being indistinguishable from humans, as well as the concept of essentialism versus existentialism. The summary explores the characters' struggle with their physical and digital identities, questioning what makes a person truly human and whether the body or the mind defines one's essence. It also touches on existentialist ideas, suggesting that life may not have a pre-assigned meaning, but individuals have the freedom to create their own purpose, as exemplified by Lain's decision to erase her own memories for the greater good of humanity.

Keywords

💡Serial Experiments Lain

Serial Experiments Lain is a cult classic anime series from 1998, known for its perplexing narrative and philosophical themes. Directed by Ryutaro Nakamura and written by Chiaki J. Konaka, the show explores the story of Lain, a young girl who becomes entangled with the 'wired' world of the internet and the nature of consciousness. The series is a central theme in the video, which delves into its philosophical underpinnings.

💡Metaphysics

Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of the universe, including the nature of reality and existence. In the context of the video, metaphysics is central to understanding Lain's journey as she grapples with the nature of her existence and the distinction between the 'wired' world and reality.

💡Idealism

Idealism is a philosophical belief that reality is mentally constructed or immaterial. The video references George Berkeley's idealism to illustrate the concept that objects only exist when perceived, as seen in the script's discussion of the tree falling in the forest thought experiment and its relation to Lain's existence.

💡Epistemology

Epistemology is the study of knowledge and justified belief. The video uses epistemology to discuss the nature of perception and reality, particularly in relation to idealism and the question of whether an unperceived tree makes a sound when it falls.

💡Wired

In the video, 'wired' refers to the internet or a digital realm that is portrayed as an upper layer of reality, intertwined with the physical world. The concept is central to Lain's narrative as she navigates between the digital and the 'real' world.

💡Alan Turing

Alan Turing was a pioneering computer scientist and philosopher known for his work on artificial intelligence and the Turing Test. The video refers to Turing's belief that a machine convincing of being human should be regarded as such, which parallels the themes of identity and reality in Lain.

💡Julian Moravcsik

Julian Moravcsik is a philosopher mentioned in the video who extends Turing's ideas, suggesting that if a machine can pass for human, it raises questions about the nature of humanity and consciousness, which is a key theme in the exploration of the 'wired' world in Lain.

💡Existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophical theory that emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and the creation of meaning in life. The video discusses how Lain embodies existentialist themes by questioning her purpose and ultimately deciding to create her own meaning, which is a central message of the series.

💡Essential Properties

Essential properties are characteristics that are fundamental to the identity of an object or concept. The video uses the example of a cup to illustrate the idea that without its essential property (a bottom to hold liquid), it ceases to be a cup, which relates to the existentialist themes in Lain about defining one's essence.

💡Jean-Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Sartre was a prominent existentialist philosopher who argued that life has no inherent meaning, and it is up to individuals to create their own. The video connects Sartre's ideas to Lain's journey, highlighting her decision to create her own purpose in the absence of a predefined one.

💡Memory

Memory is a central concept in the video and the series, where it is portrayed as a construct that can be manipulated and erased. Lain's act of erasing memories of herself is a pivotal moment in the series, illustrating the malleability of memory and its role in shaping identity and reality.

Highlights

Introduction to the philosophical themes in the anime 'Serial Experiments Lain'.

Explanation of Lain's existence being contingent on others' awareness of her.

The concept of idealism and its relation to Lain's existence.

The philosophical question: If a tree falls in a forest with no one to hear it, does it make a sound?

The role of epistemology in understanding Lain's reality.

Introduction of George Berkeley's idealism theory and its application to Lain.

The debate on the existence of powers and the 'wired' in relation to perception.

The importance of memory in defining reality within the anime.

Lain's suicide by erasing memories and the statement 'What is remembered never happened'.

The ambiguity between the 'wired' and the real world in the series.

Alan Turing's philosophy on the nature of machines and its relevance to 'Serial Experiments Lain'.

Julian method II's perspective on the human-machine distinction.

The existentialist theme in Lain's quest for identity and purpose.

Socrates and Plato's theory of essential properties and its challenge by existentialism.

Nietzsche and Kierkegaard's questioning of pre-assigned human essence.

Lain's decision to create her own purpose by erasing her existence.

Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialist philosophy and the freedom to assign meaning to life.

The invitation for viewers to share their thoughts on the philosophy of 'Serial Experiments Lain'.

Transcripts

[Music]

okay let's see I guess that I'm confused

again am I here or am i there I don't

know over there I'm everywhere I know

that but here is connected to over there

is that right but then where is the real

me after all is said and done oh there

is no real name I guess that's it I only

exist inside those people aware of my

existence but what about this means that

I can hear talking right here and now

it's me if you've been in the anime

community for any period of time it's

likely you've at least heard of the cult

classic serial experiments lain for

those who haven't seen it let me quickly

catch you up to speed

serial experiments lain coming out in

mid-1998 was directed by Nakamura and

written by the masterful Chiaki J Kanaka

apologies for mispronouncing their names

the show tells the perplexing story of a

young girl named Lane a quiet

introverted child with no friends to

speak though she's completely

disconnected from the outside world this

all changes however and she receives an

email from a classmate a classmate who

just so happens to be dead the girl in

question tells Lane that her soul has

escaped onto the net and that she's

found enlightenment or God in the wired

from there we watch lanes a journey as

she begins to transcend the wired and

consciousness itself it's a mind

boggling series made far ahead of its

time and most theorists are so busy

trying to piece together the story even

15 years later but what's not as

difficult to piece together is the

philosophy of the show the quote I

mentioned at the start specifically the

part I only exist inside people aware of

my existence reveals a key theme present

in the metaphysical views of the anime

so what are those views is there a

difference between wired and our reality

is there even a meaning to our existence

hello all my name is Kat and today we're

talking about the philosophy of serial

experiments lain as we see by that quote

lain only exists inside people who are

aware of her existence this theme is

further supported during her conversate

with Massa Mae Eddie he tells her that

what gives him power what makes him a

god is that people believe in him

however he's later disproved by Layne

who tells him he's just masquerading as

a God since he forced his followers to

believe in him this idea of only

existing if someone perceives you is not

unique to Layne it's a subject of debate

that's been around for centuries have

you ever heard the saying if a tree

falls in the forest and no one is around

to hear it does it make a sound

to answer this question we have to dive

into the field of epistemology and talk

about idealism epistemology is the study

of justified belief and knowledge a

theory of idealism the one relating to

the views of Layne was created by a 17th

century philosopher named George

Berkeley to illustrate this theory

here's a thought experiment you and your

friends are over to your house they are

to admire your brand-new vase all of you

are looking at said vase since

presumably you all have the necessary

sense organs eyes to perceive the vase

it exists without a problem

however afterward once you've all left

the house and no one is there to

perceive the vase it no longer exists

without any person or creature with the

necessary sense organs to convert the

image of the vase to a visual sensation

it doesn't exist at least according to

the views of idealism so to answer the

tree question no falling tree does not

make a sound since nothing is around to

convert the change in air pressure into

sound it isn't there so what does this

mean for laine well it shows us that her

powers and the wired wouldn't be

possible if no one perceived it without

anyone believing in her she would cease

to exist

the show takes us a step further when it

discusses memories memories play a key

part in the anime it's how Lane commits

suicide in the end by erasing everyone's

memories of her as the show itself

states

what is it remembered never happened

memory is merely a record you just need

to rewrite that record the second and

most constant theme president Lane is

the ambiguity between the wired and the

quote unquote real world the wired or

the Internet as we know it today is

painted as an upper layer of reality and

eventually one intertwined with our own

it's the kind of idea we wouldn't

question now of course the Internet is

intertwined with our lives at our world

proving once again how far ahead of its

time lane truly was but back to the

question hand is there a difference

between the wired and our reality you

want to answer that we have to turn to

our old friend Alan Turing I'm not going

to talk much about his philosophy here

as I've already discussed it at length

in another video Shane's plug like the

description but it was trans belief that

if a computer could convince someone

that it was human then it was just as

human as we are and should be regarded

as such the philosopher we're going to

be talking about today

Julian method II takes this a step

further you may be thinking even if a

machine passes the test how could we

possibly say it's human 3 countered this

by saying who's to say we are not

machines who's to say the mess of

neurons between our ears isn't just a

biological machine instead of a metal

one this is the controversial idea Lane

shows in its airing furthermore what

about the individuals in Lane who

exchanged their physical bodies for

Wired personas is there a difference

between those who replace their physical

forms with wired cells method II you

would have thought no he believed that

every part of the human body except

brain was replaceable heck even the

brain was if you could replace your

brain with a machine that functions the

same way are you still you he certainly

thought so and this is the view the show

presents your body isn't what makes you

you if you lost an arm and got a

prosthetic you can still be you when you

however many philosophers don't view

tech in reality so interchangeably David

Chalmers a contemporary philosopher

agreed with men 3 up to a point but he

thought that a machine masquerading as

human was missing something that it was

no better than a zombie pretending to be

human it's up for debate which of these

views was intended by the creators

because the show sadly never really

reveals it let me know down in the

comments if you think the wired and real

world are interchangeable in lane the

third and final subject I wanted to talk

about today is existentialism in Lane as

anyone who's seen the show knows Lane

spends a great deal of time trying to

determine who she is and what her

purpose is existentialism is usually

seen as a bleak topic but it can be

quite the contrary and it is in serial

experiments lain but first a little

around Socrates and Plato the famous

Greek philosophers both pioneered the

theory of essential properties essential

properties are what is essential to make

an object that object a cup is still a

cup regardless of if it's red or blue or

has a handle or not but if you say take

away the bottom of the cup it's no

longer considered a cup is it this would

be the cups essential property as

opposed to its accidental properties

like color Plato and Socrates believed

everything had an essential property or

essence and that everything was given

this essence before it was even created

this includes humans of course and was

the birth of essentialism since everyone

was born destined to be a certain thing

their essence the meaning of your life

should be to follow your essence this

concept wasn't called into question to

the late 19th century philosophers like

Nietzsche and Kierkegaard questioned

whether or not humans were born with an

essence at all it is the view of such

existentialist that human lives have no

pre assigned meaning but that doesn't

automatically entail nihilism the belief

that life is completely meaningless Lane

spends a series learning about people

and questioning her purpose till in the

end she decides to make one for herself

she decides to erase all the memories of

herself effectively erasing her

existence to help humanity the series

may never state that there is meaning to

life but because of this we can give

life whatever meaning we want jean-paul

Sartre was an existentialist philosopher

who preached the same idea he thought

that since life was meaningless

we had the freedom to assign it whatever

meaning we like to create whatever moral

codes we like or whatever governments we

like by rejecting our freedom to make

these decisions and trying to pawn the

weight of our decisions onto others we

are exhibiting what Sartre would call

bad faith Lane couldn't find a reason

for her existence so she made her own

despite everything she learned about

humanity she decides to dedicate her

existence to us and doesn't give up on

us just yet so what do you think do you

agree with the views discussed in this

video you have your own thoughts on the

philosophy of Lane please let me know

down in the comments I really enjoy

seeing what you think sorry this video

was a little heavy on the philosophy but

I hope you learn something or at least

enjoyed it if you did feel free to

subscribe for more content like this I

post videos about every two weeks and

let me know down the comments what anime

you want to see me cover next goodbye