A complete transcript of this podcast is available here:

https://engagedharma.net/2023/02/25/ghost-in-the-shell-dharma-dilemma-2/

Last week, I released the first episode and discussion of my favourite cyber punk film, Ghost in the Shell. In the first episode, I outlined the questions and existential dilemmas posed by the film, especially regarding the identity of its protagonist, the cyborg Motoko Kusanagi.

In this second episode, I begin to address those issues and propose some possible answers. However, the arguments I present are not based on answering any of the questions pondred in episode 1. The main reason is that I don't think any of the questions posed in the first episode, which are those posed by the film, will ever have definitive answers. I believe that every one of those questions and possible answers will always be in dispute. I don't believe that science, philosophy, culture or religion can or will provide any definitive answers to these existential conundrums. There will always be a range of possible answers and ongoing disagreement and debate. Some of those questions will always be undecidable.

So my arguments for the answers I propose are not based on deciding whether cyborgs like Kusanagi are human, partly human, or merely machines; whether cyborgs have consciousness, or selves, or souls. Rather, I am concerned with how cyborgs are understood and treated as 'beings', from a Buddhist perspective, whether truly human, cyborg or otherwise.

Music featured in this episode is from my album, ‘Deep Dive’ https://shaunyata.bandcamp.com/album/deep-dive

Tracks, in order as they appear in the podcast:

Ghost 03:03

Deep Dive 04:43

Cyborg Awakening 04:20

On The Edge of Night  02:35

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.