Sherry
Sherry

一个热爱哲学的经济学博士生

A movie review of eternal sunrise---thoughts about brains' plasticity

This is an interesting movie discussing the ethical problems behind a new technology—erasing a certain part of memory one suffers from. In the movie, a couple were so badly hurt after their breaking up that they decide to erase their memory of each other, in order to live a comfortable and peaceful like without the feeling of heartbroken. However, the vague thoughts remained in their brain pushed them to the place they met for the first time. And a 'new' relationship started again. Then they knew their old relationship and how badly they were hurt during that time. But at this moment, they loved each other so deeply that they can not even imagine how they could survive without each other. But they face a choice, either to separate before they hurt each other badly or to follow their heart to continue their relationship no matter what happens later.

This is an interesting choice.

I will choose the latter, respecting my free will and waiting to see what will happen this time.

The first reason is from Popper's anti-historianism. I am not sure whether the potential capability I developed from the old relationship could remain. But if we assume it will, then I am not the same person as I used to be. After my heartbroken experience, I know more about how to deal with a relationship, so nobody should judge me based on determinism and predict that I will get the same miserable result as before.

The second reason is about the concept of the plasticity of our brains. The brain's plasticity means disobedience of every constituted form, a refusal of all the modes as opposed to the flexibility of brains that takes the path of least resistance in order to get away from vulnerability and chronic disturbance. The flexibility of brains is widely appreciated under the structure of competitive capitalism. In Silicon Valley, skilled workers even would like to take pills to stay focus, to keep productive, so that they can meet their bosses' demands and secure a good job. The desire to pursue a 'spotless mind', in particular in a society where it is highly probable to be met by the advanced technology, for me is dangerous. Every coin has two sides. The flexibility of mind could indeed improve our productivity, but on the other hand, harm our creativity, strong-will, and self-identities. In the end, alienated by the extreme pursuit of productivity due to the anxiety from high-tech capitalism, people are more like machines than flesh and blood, which might lead to the very end of capitalism predicted by Marx.

In contrast, to hold the plasticity of brains means holding on free choices regardless of consequences, holding on emotional self regardless of productivity and success, holding on the inner value of human beings regardless of instrumental value for the society.


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