Thoughts ---> Words

Wednesday, March 17, 2004

On page 200, Jack comments that "we're the sum of our chemical impulses." He then asks how this fact changes our understanding of good and evil. This conversation is in the context of Jack learning about Dylar. How do you read this passage?

The passage gives an impression that Jack's whole perception of life has changed a lot. That everything about a human being is scientific makes him no different than a machine. So what happens to all the emotions, conscience and all those things that are typically associated with humans? All these are just a result of chemical changes taking place in our body which again is nothing but a group of cells and molecules. Thus the whole perception of individuality has been shattered (for Jack). How would then one differentiate two things which are made of the same kind of cells and molecules? There would be no heiarchy, no superiority and no inferiority. Each person would be equal and exactly the same. All these are the questions that would be runnning across Jack's mind. It is a particularly important passage in the novel because in the passage, Jack also learns (or rather he tells the readers) that fear (fear of death more specifically) is just a chemically induced "emotion" and that by the use of the right kind of chemicals, the brain can be manipulated not to fear death by producing chemicals that counter those which cause fear of death. This again is a scary thought for Jack because this would mean that all humans could be manipulated to think and act in a particular way. There would be "super humans" who had no fear of death and all this could be done through science. This raises a very important question in his mind, one about the existence of the human race. That humans could manipulate themselves to behave like machines (i.e with no emotions) raises doubts abuot our very existence. This would mean that scientists are the equivalent of God on Earth which is again a scary thought that men/women could change the destiny and reason for existence of their own race.

¶ 4:57 PM

Thursday, March 04, 2004

How do you read Jack's discussion of "the networks, the circuits, the streams, the harmonies" (46)?

Jack's trip to the automated teller machine was an important insight into Jack's thought process. It is because he gets the same amount that he expected to get, that he feels relieved. This is why he feels confident in the system and feels its "blessings". It seemed that he was looking to the system, an invisible force, for approval of his own efforts to sumarize his expenditure. He felt its support. He felt safe and secure because the mainframe from which all this data was recieved was secure, in a locked room and yet, he could interact with it, use it and thus when the mainframe confirmed his efforts, there is a sense of safety, and awe at the system. He thus feels oneness with them. There is a sense of peace, safety and harmony with the things surrounding him. His looking to the system gives us a feeling that he has faith and confidence in something which is invisible, surprising and yet, secure. This might in some way be compared to priest's belief in God and His power. ¶ 3:01 AM