Old Soul in a New Mechanical Body

Abstract

The soul–body–mind problem is an age–old question. Ever since Plato and pre– Stoics, many philosophers have tried to answer the questions of dependence and relationship between these “parts”. This paper is an overview of the theory of holons proposed by Arthur Koestler and its later implications in modern cinema, specifically the anime Ghost in the Shell. There are many issues that are current and related to the mind–body problem that arise from modern cinema and TV shows, but are usually neglected. In these shows and movies, we can find modern ideas about cyborgs and transhumanism, which were popularized by the mentioned anime. Most modern shows are closer to transhumanism and postmodernism and will therefore be mentioned only by name. Another issue that arises from modern cinema is individualism and egocentrism that is not focused on the transcendental or even the transcendent. The intention of this paper is to show that using Koestler’s ideas of holons we need to take into consideration a broader approach to transhumanism, and that it should not be focused only on the individual.