In a perfect world, this might work. But in our world, I think prison would only be a start. After that, I think humanity would move downward at warp speed.
Goodness. I can't even begin to signify the allure of such a story. There are so many nuances to the concept of a mind prison especially in the context of AI. I mean there is always a possibility the AI might develop some quirky personality and the rest will be either a nightmare or real treatment. Then there is also the human question, there will definitely be a good backlash against it. So yeah, it is certainly something I have thought about and may already have a story about too! Great post Chef!
I think the idea of a mind prison is akin to a consciousness prison. I have heard the idea expressed about downloading your consciousness into a device such as a quantum computer after or right before physical death occurs. This to me seems like it could definitely be something like a mind prison. Keeping our consciousness alive after death seems unnatural to me.
I do think that at the end of it, a person's mind is definitely something of a prison. In a way, a lot of things people do in the modern world is unnatural but I get what you mean that keeping the consciousness alive after death seems to take it up a notch. In fact, I might go so far as to say that at that point one could argue that such a person may not have actually died at all, in a sense. But yes, it definitely would feel weird. But the idea of being stuck inside a virtual reality is both frightening and fascinating. But there is also the possibility that should it be possible to download one's consciousness into memory, it is also viable then to place such a memory into a mechanical body that may or may not resemble a person allowing that person to interact with its physical surroundings.
This is definitely a very strange boundary that might possibly be crossed at some point.
I am sure that boundary will be crossed at some point. I've been intrigued by the idea of being able to download a persons memories onto an external device to be viewed by loved one's after the persons passing. That's a bit different than being able to download a persons total consciousness into memory, and like you said, place the memory into a mechanical device. If your downloading just the memories from physical life and not total consciousness, and you were to allow people to watch what would essentially be a life re-play you would have to edit out at least some memories from that persons entire life for at least ethical reasons. Which is the topic of the film "The Final Cut" where a brain implant records your whole life and then someone creates a "highlights" reel, and shows it at your funeral. https://youtu.be/EM5MzCAZ3OY?si=du8e2POFAN-y1yJJ
That does seem almost invasive. But I have seen such concepts floated about. I once read something that used something similar, but is loosely based on using a person’s memory to solve a crime, which is definitely an interesting concept.
To edit someone's memory to view it sounds to me like only taking a portion of one’s totality (though I do understand where the ethical argument stems from) and most definitely affects consciousness, if one does even remain aware at that point. Then again, to have certain individuals view it as a way to relive memories sounds rather unappealing especially since it might trap the living into stages of grief.
Thank you for sharing this most interesting idea by the way.
The optimistic futurist in me wants to believe that this would be a good solution, but I think I’ve been tainted by too many dystopian stories. There are so many ways this could go wrong.
Here a dystopian thought. Depending on the severity of the crime, the convicts memories are completely replaced with artificial ones, including military training. At the end of rehabilitation, the “patient” wakes to find themselves conscripted to a special branch of the armed forces. Think of them like drones. Instead of sending the best of our citizens to war, we reprogram the worst of our human capital into soldiers.
I have too been tainted by many a dystopian tale. I think this kind of prison would just be another tool in the hands of the all too powerful. Scary stuff.
This could be cool. Ways down the road. Cyberpunk literary genre has this. Usually it’s for sex experience, extreme activity experience, etc. The genre always finds an abuse of these things. Snuff recordings are taboo. But you feel all the sensations, your adrenaline pumps, etc. There’s the recording, then the playback.
In a perfect world, this might work. But in our world, I think prison would only be a start. After that, I think humanity would move downward at warp speed.
Goodness. I can't even begin to signify the allure of such a story. There are so many nuances to the concept of a mind prison especially in the context of AI. I mean there is always a possibility the AI might develop some quirky personality and the rest will be either a nightmare or real treatment. Then there is also the human question, there will definitely be a good backlash against it. So yeah, it is certainly something I have thought about and may already have a story about too! Great post Chef!
I think the idea of a mind prison is akin to a consciousness prison. I have heard the idea expressed about downloading your consciousness into a device such as a quantum computer after or right before physical death occurs. This to me seems like it could definitely be something like a mind prison. Keeping our consciousness alive after death seems unnatural to me.
I do think that at the end of it, a person's mind is definitely something of a prison. In a way, a lot of things people do in the modern world is unnatural but I get what you mean that keeping the consciousness alive after death seems to take it up a notch. In fact, I might go so far as to say that at that point one could argue that such a person may not have actually died at all, in a sense. But yes, it definitely would feel weird. But the idea of being stuck inside a virtual reality is both frightening and fascinating. But there is also the possibility that should it be possible to download one's consciousness into memory, it is also viable then to place such a memory into a mechanical body that may or may not resemble a person allowing that person to interact with its physical surroundings.
This is definitely a very strange boundary that might possibly be crossed at some point.
I am sure that boundary will be crossed at some point. I've been intrigued by the idea of being able to download a persons memories onto an external device to be viewed by loved one's after the persons passing. That's a bit different than being able to download a persons total consciousness into memory, and like you said, place the memory into a mechanical device. If your downloading just the memories from physical life and not total consciousness, and you were to allow people to watch what would essentially be a life re-play you would have to edit out at least some memories from that persons entire life for at least ethical reasons. Which is the topic of the film "The Final Cut" where a brain implant records your whole life and then someone creates a "highlights" reel, and shows it at your funeral. https://youtu.be/EM5MzCAZ3OY?si=du8e2POFAN-y1yJJ
That does seem almost invasive. But I have seen such concepts floated about. I once read something that used something similar, but is loosely based on using a person’s memory to solve a crime, which is definitely an interesting concept.
To edit someone's memory to view it sounds to me like only taking a portion of one’s totality (though I do understand where the ethical argument stems from) and most definitely affects consciousness, if one does even remain aware at that point. Then again, to have certain individuals view it as a way to relive memories sounds rather unappealing especially since it might trap the living into stages of grief.
Thank you for sharing this most interesting idea by the way.
The optimistic futurist in me wants to believe that this would be a good solution, but I think I’ve been tainted by too many dystopian stories. There are so many ways this could go wrong.
Here a dystopian thought. Depending on the severity of the crime, the convicts memories are completely replaced with artificial ones, including military training. At the end of rehabilitation, the “patient” wakes to find themselves conscripted to a special branch of the armed forces. Think of them like drones. Instead of sending the best of our citizens to war, we reprogram the worst of our human capital into soldiers.
Scary stuff!
Thank you for sharing!
I have too been tainted by many a dystopian tale. I think this kind of prison would just be another tool in the hands of the all too powerful. Scary stuff.
This could be cool. Ways down the road. Cyberpunk literary genre has this. Usually it’s for sex experience, extreme activity experience, etc. The genre always finds an abuse of these things. Snuff recordings are taboo. But you feel all the sensations, your adrenaline pumps, etc. There’s the recording, then the playback.
Never though do this for criminal rehab.
This would be cool as a VR experience but not for "rehabilitation" or more like re-education through trauma.
That sounds like a good premise for a Sci-fi story….😂 but if it becomes reality - it’s frightening.
It is frightening but it would make for a great story. I am sure this kind of thing will happen some day.
VERY dystopian! I was not expecting this today.
Very dystopian indeed!