Tom the Dancing Bug by Ruben Bolling for April 04, 2009
March 28, 2009
April 11, 2009
Transcript:
the adventures of brain in a beaker "telling tales" guy 1: have you seen the sneezing panda? guy 2: dang! why is this computer so slow? guy 1: oh, i guess 'cause it's hooked up to my brain in a beaker. guy 2: huh? guy 1: oh. it's a disembodied brain, stimulated by the computer to believe it's a functioning person, but it's in a virtual reality. guy 2: that's wild! have you ever told it that it's a brain in a beaker? guy 1: that defeats the whole purpose of a brain in a beaker! you want a diet dr. pepper? guy 2: nah. computer: folders: brain in beaker: interface: input message: you are a brain in a beaker. tap tap tap guy 1: hey! what're you doing?! guy 2: oh! nothing! checking out that panda! quit guy 1: hey, you've seen the star wars kid, right? guy 2: um... and so - editor: i don't get it! why on earth would you create a series of comic strips about a brain in a beaker? man: I don't know! the idea just popped into my head!
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ejcapulet about 15 years ago
Maybe it should have stayed in your head, but it was worth a shot.
pschearer Premium Member about 15 years ago
If anyone ever suggests you are merely a brain in a beaker, the philosophically appropriate response is to kick him/her in the shins. It works on solipsists too.
sacha8uk about 15 years ago
Bad answer, pschearer! if you are a brain in a beaker, then all your sensations - including pain and pleasure - will be the result of an electrical stimulation by this computer. It doesn’t work either for solipsists, because solipsism holds that the external world and other beings are creation of one’s own mind: this kick in the shin would just be part of your imagination, just like in a dream you are afraid of monsters your imagination created, or you feel pain or pleasure from stimuli your brain created (see erotic dreams for example).
This comic is philosophically very interesting and very logical! you will never be able to prove that you are not a brain in a beaker, because you will never be able to prove that this idea that you are a brain in a beaker doesn’t come from your mind!
ChiehHsia about 15 years ago
sacha8uk, have you cleaned your beaker yet like I told you to?