Philosophical Interpretation of the Movie The Thirteenth Floor - Essay Example

Philosophical Interpretation of the Movie: The Thirteenth Floor Introduction The movie, the thirteenth Floor, focuses on the comparison of the two worlds that fill the perception of the human brain. It identifies the similarities between the real and the virtual worlds. The real world, in this case, means the current world we live in where the objects are tangible. On the other hand, the virtual world is a world only possible in the human mind. It represents what psychologists prefer to call fantasy. This paper, with reference from other professional articles, seeks to explore the assumption in the movie that, the world we live in is imaginary. It will analyze the philosophical implications of the narrowing gap between the real world and the virtual world. Rationale The protagonists Hannon Fuller and Douglas Hall create a computer based simulation that works in the real world. The simulation involves the generation of a virtual world on the 13th floor of a building in Los Angeles. The computer program is capable of recreating Los Angeles as it was in the year 1937! The rationale for the movie bases on transferring a computer’s program into a person’s brain. If a person connects to the system, he/she acquires a virtual personality that depicts a 1937 scenario. Authenticity of the vintage material items characterizes the newly created 1937 environment. Surprisingly, lives in both worlds, virtual and real worlds, are very similar. The conclusion that, even the current life we live in is imaginary forms the climax for the movie, the thirteenth floor. Discussion Qn1.The possibility of constructing an Artificial Intelligence in principal The discussion here lies in the question; is it possible to create an artificial intelligence such as the one depicted in the thirteenth floor movie? Searle (1986) suggests that, to answer this question, one should focus on two levels of artificial intelligence that explain the principles of human-computer connection (4); that is, 1. The weaker level of artificial intelligence 2. The stronger level of artificial intelligence It is important to note that simulations of human reality have psychological and philosophical implications. According to Searle (1986), a computer programmed appropriately is not only a simulation of the mind, but, works as a mind. It possesses the human cognitive abilities; thus, it is possible to integrate the program into the human mind. In the strong AI, the computers are themselves the explanations rather than tools for psychological explanations. Since the computer based on strong AI has cognitive abilities, it explains human cognition. Searle’s work presents the fact that the computer can understand scenarios just as the human brain can. Now, for a simulation such as the one in the movie the thirteenth floor to work, there needs to be a connection between the human brain and the computer’s program. Searle’s work on Minds, Brains and Science verifies the possibility of creating the simulation. It confirms the assumption that a computer’s program can be transferred into a human’s brain. To further explain the possibility of creating a simulation that allows one to move from one period to another virtually, consider Alvin Platinga’s article, Against Materialism. The article concentrates on the dualism of human nature based on the physical being and the soul. Alvin asks two basic questions that guide his explanation for simulations of the virtual and real world phenomena; 1. Is it possible for the human self to exist without connection to the physical body, in which case, the soul and the body are detached? 2. Is it possible that the self can be transferred from one point to another? The answer to both questions above while considering the definition of the word possibility in the broadest possible sense is, yes. This implies that the creation of the simulation portrayed in the movie, the thirteenth floor, is not a wild possibility. Immaterialism forms the basis for the justification of this claim. Under the concept of immaterialism lies the basic assumption that human beings are not material objects. Therefore, it is possible the self can separate from the body and still exist and also that one stronger self can replace a weaker personality in another body. In conclusion, if one can exist separately from the body at a specific time, then, he/she can exist in a different time, say 1937. Therefore, the artificial intelligence depicted in the movie is possible to construct based on the entirety of true philosophy rather than liberal theology. Qn2. Would characters understand the meaning of their words and actions? This question focuses on the fact that it is possible to create an artificial intelligence as the one depicted in the movie, the thirteenth floor. As stated earlier, the creation of the artificial intelligence program and its application has psychological and philosophical effects on people. The question lies in the justifications whether people are in control of what they do or how they think. The answer is yes. Consider the basic assumption in the movie that the program created, gets transferred to the brain of the subject. What happens to the fundamental components that run the person? The program tends to control the imaginary parts of the brain shifting the self to the future or the past. The self then moves to the point of focus and tends to find another vessel, which is the body. The key word here is that the body is the vessel; thus, the person under the influence of the program is well aware of the actions and the meaning of their words. However, the mind gets fully operationalized and the subconscious mind may overwhelm the conscious reservoirs of thought. In this case the subject may respond to stimuli psychologically without recognizing the driving factors. Even so, the mind forms the self and, psychologists have argued that the mind influences all the actions of the vessel. Given that the AI program only shifts the mind to another point and time, then it’s possible that the personality does not change and the person is aware of the words they use and what they do. The program created only seeks to enhance the virtual reality that already exists in the human brain. The program takes the responsibility of the brain human being and sends the person’s imagination to the year 1937. It is important to note that Psychologists regard the brain as the most powerful organ compared to other organs of the body. Therefore, the most logical explanation that supports the working of the simulation is that the brain harbors the program. In this case, the program acts as the transport vessel through time to the specified period. Philosophy presents the brain and the computer as two products of nature that antagonize each other. Based on the fact that the brain harbors the program, and in consideration of the proof that the brain determines the consciousness of a person, then, actions and words are not lost to the subject. The program thus, only acts to trigger the virtual reality as the brain manages the actions of the self. Qn3. Is Ashton Conscious? Does he have feelings? After logging on to the computer’s program, Douglas Hall returns to the year 1937 in the form of a banker called John Ferguson. Jerry Ashton is a bartender from the time period in 1937 who learns of Douglas Hall’s virtual nature. Ashton accidentally comes across the massage to Hall from his colleague Hannon Fuller. In the movie, Ashton lets fear and anger take over, and he tries to kill Hall who barely survives the virtual reality. Analyzing the film critically reveals that Ashton is not conscious in the 1937 simulation. This is because Whitney assumes Ashton’s identity when he enters the 1937 simulation. Whitney overwhelms Ashton’s consciousness; thus, Ashton’s personality is suppressed within Whitney’s mind. Only when Whitney gets killed in a car crash, does Ashton’s consciousness shift to Whitney’s body in the 1990’s simulation. In the 1990’s simulation, Ashton kills the guard, but, he is then killed by David. It is difficult to state whether a character is conscious at each stage of the movie. However, it is right to conclude that the conscious mind does not cease its functions even when another person takes over. It influences the actions of the other person. Based on the fact the simulation is a basic transfer program that only affects the functionality of the mind, then, one can assume that Ashton is conscious. Does Ashton have feelings? According to Alvin Platinga’s article, Against Materialism, the brain determines human capacities with respect to the soul. In this case, human capacities refer to technical abilities as well as ability to feel emotion. In psychology, emotions determine feelings, and feelings emanate from consciousness. We have already established that Ashton is conscious with reference to the principal of basic simulation effects on the mind. Therefore, it is entirely right to draw an inference that Ashton has feelings. Evidence and depth of Ashton’s feelings The word feelings in this context, refers to the emotional or moral sensibility. There are various words that can describe the aspect of feeling, even in the simulations. A good example is Ashton’s reaction when he stumbles upon the truth of Johnson Ferguson’s virtual reality. Jerry Ashton gets frightened since he feels that Ferguson is a threat to him. In effort to cover his fear, Ashton gets angry thus plans to kill Johnson, who is Douglas Hall in the 1937 simulation. Fear and anger are the basic emotional pivots of the psychology of personality and emotion. Eventually, Ashton’s feelings grow deeper and, he is no longer able to control his actions. When he reemerges in the 1990’s simulation, Ashton in the form of Whitney’s body represents a sentimental vulnerable being. Ashton’s consciousness finds itself in a new environment. Ashton’s actions throughout the movie, the thirteenth floor, reinforce the fact that Ashton has feelings. They portray the inability of a person to control the negative psychological implications of the simulation. Conclusion The ability to form simulations that can transfer a person to the year 1937 based on capitalization of virtual reality stands for the creations of a new intelligent being. The most important question to consider here is; do human beings possess abilities that cannot be duplicated in a computer program? The answer to the evaluation question focuses on the undeliverable aspects of the simulation. Human beings have duplicated every aspect of their being into abstract form. The ideology that contradicts the simulation focuses on the inability to prove that, the human soul is the source of life. Liberal theology has its basis in the fact that life cannot be understood with help of abstract representations. In fact, the possibility of separated the soul from the body is only considered in the broadest possible sense based on many assumptions. It is crucial to note that scientists regard many assumptions as an increase in the margin for error. Shifting focus to the fact that computer programs today can carry out all human tasks, one grasps the possibility of the simulation such as that in the movie, the thirteenth floor. The argument for this possibility focuses on the idea of immaterialism advanced by David Chalmers. Works Cited Platinga, Alvin. Against Materialism by David Chalmers. New York: Nerd Press, 1990. Rusnak, Josef. The Thirteenth Floor Movie, 1999. Searle, John. Minds, Brains and Science. Cambridge. Harvard University Press, 1986, Print. Read More