Metaphysical Musings: Are We Just Brains in a Vat?- Shayli Chandarana

Philosophical debate has pondered metaphysics, which explores the nature of reality and existence, for centuries. The lack of scientific evidence and the sheer number of unanswered theories make metaphysics a fascinating branch of philosophy. The greatest debate of our existence questions whether our perceived reality is anything more than an illusion. This essay will, therefore, explore the relationship between the mind and the soul, discussing Avicenna’s ‘floating man’ thought experiment, Descartes’ conundrums and the ‘Brain in a Vat’ hypothesis furthered by science fiction narratives.

The ‘Floating Man’ (Avicenna)

According to the Persian philosopher Avicenna, the ‘Floating Man’ experiment is a profound investigation into the complexities of self-awareness, the nature of the soul and the intricate dynamics defining the interaction between mind and body. Avicenna asks us to imagine a situation where all psychological sensations and sensory experiences are absent, but the person is nevertheless vividly aware of their own existence.

This thought experiment suggests the existence of an incorporeal soul, or self awareness that is separate from the physical body. As a result, Avicenna presents an argument against notions of the mind-body connection, requiring us to reevaluate the fundamental essence of who we are in a way that goes beyond conventional lines of reasoning.

‘Cogito, ergo sum’ (Descartes)

Descartes, a leader in contemporary philosophy, famously stated ‘Cogito, ergo sum’ which translates to ‘I think, therefore I am’. This statement anchored his core position in metaphysics. He separates himself from the common debate of sensory experiences in search of the unanswerable truth and instead emphasises thought as the foundation for certainty. He argues that our ability to question and contemplate is enough to be indisputable proof of one’s existence.

We can contrast Descartes with Avicenna’s ‘Floating Man’ thought experiment. This unveils the subtle ways in which both philosophers attempt to anchor our knowledge of our existence in unquestionable self-knowledge. Descartes stresses that certainty is enough to prove our thinking and existence, whereas Avicenna challenges us to consider the nature of self-awareness independent of external stimuli by taking us through a mental scenario devoid of sensory sensations. This analogy forces us to examine the various strands woven into these narratives and how each adds to our metaphysical comprehension.

Descartes and Avicenna ask us to consider the nature of self-knowledge and the underlying assumptions that support our conviction about existence.

‘Brain in a Vat’ Hypothesis – The Matrix Moment

The ‘brain in a vat’ concept is a fascinating modern investigation that has been played out in many science fiction narratives, like The Matrix. Within this imaginary world, our experiences, ideas and senses are proposed to be fully virtual, similar to the characters in a computer-generated reality. Profound questions concerning the nature of reality itself and the veracity of our existence arise from the implications of living in a world where every aspect of our reality is manipulable. This scenario provides a stimulating prism through which we can compare and contrast different philosophical viewpoints.

When comparing Descartes’ scepticism and Avicenna’s reflection on self-awareness in the absence of sensory experiences to the ‘Brain in a Vat’ hypothesis, we find there is a common concern regarding the veracity of our knowledge and the essence of knowing oneself.

Descartes and the ‘Brain in a Vat’ theory struggle with widespread deception and the challenge of building a solid basis for knowledge. To this, Avicenna’s ‘Floating Man’ adds a scenario that disentangles selfawareness from the outside world, highlighting the soul’s incorporeal nature. Despite this common theme, context and method differ. Descartes challenges the veracity of sensory experiences by relying on radical doubt and introspection. Avicenna’s thought experiment highlights the soul’s separation from the body whilst simultaneously questioning sensory perceptions.

Conversely, the ‘Brain in a Vat’ theory questions the basic structure of our existence in the digital age by transporting the contemplation into a futuristic setting in which cutting-edge technology acts as a catalyst for virtual reality.

Even though self-awareness is present in all these experiments, each offers a unique perspective on our existence that allows us to consider the limits of reality, knowledge, and our own nature. The ‘Brain in a Vat’ theory illustrates how metaphysical research is always changing with developments in technology.

Conclusion

Whilst contemplating metaphysical musings, we have explored classical thought experiments, traversed Cartesian hypotheses and contemplated science fiction theories like the ‘Brain in a vat’ idea. While these theories each attempt to explain our existence, the question of whether we might merely be brains in a vat is yet to be answered.

References

Beck, R.N. (1953). Descartes’s Cogito Reexamined. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 14(2), p.212. doi:10.2307/2103328.

Halme, N. (2022). The Floating Man And The Methodological Grounds For Avicenna’s Immaterial Soul . HiPo: The Langara Student Journal of History and Political Science, 5 (3), 15-20. Available at:

https://arcabc.ca/islandora/object/lc%3A478 8/datastream/PDF/view.

Steinitz, Y. (1994). Brains in a Vat: Different Perspectives. The Philosophical Quarterly, 44(175), p.213.

doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/2219742.