An easy illustration of Baudrillard’s idea of simulacra:
First stage (original reality): a cherry
Second stage (distorted original): a candy flavored with cherry syrup
Third stage (empty shell): a candy flavored with artificial cherry
Fourth stage (imitation with no original): very berry flavored candy
Fascinating – thank you, wearsshoes. I always learn so much here!
Since replication of each would remain the same stage, would a VR simulation retain the same stages as well? Where would a golem or a tulpa fall – first stage? How about a balsa wood rose?
@wearsshoes:
I think a VR sim would be 3rd or fourth stage, depending on whether or not the thing it sims is a real thing (a sim of the starship Enterprise would be 4th stage, a sim of the aircraft carrier Enterprise would be 3rd). Even if using scans of an original real thing, that still a layer of artificial recreation removed. But a flight sim that contains, say, a VM version of the actual aircraft control software could be 2nd stage.
A golem could be anything from 3rd to not a simulation/simulacra at all, depending on how it’s made. The traditional “clay man” golem would be 4th stage (sim of a human, but containing no originally human aspect/component), unless you’re following a variation where blood is mixed into the clay (which would make it a 3rd stage). A Frankenstein-style creation would be 3rd stage (a sim of a human, made of actual human). A utilitarian or creatively shaped Golem not made to imitate any specific creature (human or otherwise) would be an original thing, not a sim, so it wouldn’t be on the scale at all.
A tulpa would be similar to a golem. If human-shaped, it would be either 2nd or 3rd stage, depending on whether you count “thought” or “will” as a part of the person who created it. If shaped like an animal or other non-human real thing, it would be 3th stage. If completely original or utilitarian in shape: not a sim, so not on the scale.
A balsa wood rose would be 3rd stage, as it simulates an actual thing (a rose), but contains no actual rose elements/components.
“The traditional “clay man” golem would be 4th stage (sim of a human, but containing no originally human aspect/component), unless you’re following a variation where blood is mixed into the clay (which would make it a 3rd stage). A Frankenstein-style creation would be 3rd stage (a sim of a human, made of actual human).”
Clay man golem should be 3rd stage if just clay, 2nd if there’s blood in the clay. Frankenstein-style creation is 2nd.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. I never met the name “Baudrillard” until I read Tom Gauld’s comics, and I’m both french and a former philosophy minor (even if not for long).
“We were terrorized this morning,
Riding “It’s a Small World After All”
And there should have been a warning:
Parents must have lots of alcohol…”
-Takin’ the Kids to Disney World (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjO8WHB7j2o)
Not sure Nick and Aimee can be considered the same person at this point. They’ve been diverging for several months—or years? I’m not quite sure of the timescale.
Being an AI unconstrained by an organic brain’s bandwidth limitations has its perks.
Short-lived sidekicks? What did he do to get them killed anyway? o_O
They may have died of boredom?
or disgust
Sepuku, then?
I’m picturing the little old lady in “Airplane!”… just after Ted Striker told her of his time in Drambuie, off the Barbary Coast…
An easy illustration of Baudrillard’s idea of simulacra:
First stage (original reality): a cherry
Second stage (distorted original): a candy flavored with cherry syrup
Third stage (empty shell): a candy flavored with artificial cherry
Fourth stage (imitation with no original): very berry flavored candy
Fascinating – thank you, wearsshoes. I always learn so much here!
Since replication of each would remain the same stage, would a VR simulation retain the same stages as well? Where would a golem or a tulpa fall – first stage? How about a balsa wood rose?
A golem would be second stage. It’s an imperfect reproduction because it has no power of speech or free will.
@wearsshoes:
I think a VR sim would be 3rd or fourth stage, depending on whether or not the thing it sims is a real thing (a sim of the starship Enterprise would be 4th stage, a sim of the aircraft carrier Enterprise would be 3rd). Even if using scans of an original real thing, that still a layer of artificial recreation removed. But a flight sim that contains, say, a VM version of the actual aircraft control software could be 2nd stage.
A golem could be anything from 3rd to not a simulation/simulacra at all, depending on how it’s made. The traditional “clay man” golem would be 4th stage (sim of a human, but containing no originally human aspect/component), unless you’re following a variation where blood is mixed into the clay (which would make it a 3rd stage). A Frankenstein-style creation would be 3rd stage (a sim of a human, made of actual human). A utilitarian or creatively shaped Golem not made to imitate any specific creature (human or otherwise) would be an original thing, not a sim, so it wouldn’t be on the scale at all.
A tulpa would be similar to a golem. If human-shaped, it would be either 2nd or 3rd stage, depending on whether you count “thought” or “will” as a part of the person who created it. If shaped like an animal or other non-human real thing, it would be 3th stage. If completely original or utilitarian in shape: not a sim, so not on the scale.
A balsa wood rose would be 3rd stage, as it simulates an actual thing (a rose), but contains no actual rose elements/components.
GAH, I got my numbers mixed up on one of those:
“The traditional “clay man” golem would be 4th stage (sim of a human, but containing no originally human aspect/component), unless you’re following a variation where blood is mixed into the clay (which would make it a 3rd stage). A Frankenstein-style creation would be 3rd stage (a sim of a human, made of actual human).”
Clay man golem should be 3rd stage if just clay, 2nd if there’s blood in the clay. Frankenstein-style creation is 2nd.
Sorry if that confuses things.
“Sorry if that confuses things”
I was confused before you started, so no worries there.
Mood.
I bet she built her own Library of Babel
Yeah,I had to look Baudrillard up—crazy French philosophers debating the reality of reality never held much interest for me.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. I never met the name “Baudrillard” until I read Tom Gauld’s comics, and I’m both french and a former philosophy minor (even if not for long).
Why is the song: “It’s A Small World After All” going through my head?
Ah, I see you are yet another victim.
I’m hearing “Arnold, Arnold, Arnold Rimmer…”
“Now is the time, now is the best time of your life…”
Now there’s a reference I wasn’t expecting to come across today.
There’s more than one Disney ride that has a sweeter-than-cute theme song.
Cue they lyrics from Uncle Bonsai:
“We were terrorized this morning,
Riding “It’s a Small World After All”
And there should have been a warning:
Parents must have lots of alcohol…”
-Takin’ the Kids to Disney World (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjO8WHB7j2o)
Not sure Nick and Aimee can be considered the same person at this point. They’ve been diverging for several months—or years? I’m not quite sure of the timescale.
I consider them twins. Built from the same materials, but not the same because of different experiences.
At least Nick gave up trying to hit on her.
Did he ever do that? O_o
It could be hundreds of years in cyber vs meat time.
Nick spends a fair amount of time in cyber, though.
Nick, ask Virginia which one of you is cuter. Go on, you need it.
Would Virginia like Nick better in original recipe…. or a version who has read all the books? It’ll be Tip vs. Artie all over again.
AImee and Lovecraft are so adorable in the middle panels. Plus Nick is always adorable when he starts getting grumpy.