M.M.A. -Massive Mesh Ambitions- Special Feature #03 / Masatoshi Kokubo “Exploring the Boundaries of Ghosts—What Guarantees That You Can be Yourself?”

A media project to speculate and discuss about GHOST IN THE SHELL “M.M.A. -Massive Mesh Ambitions-.”

 

The theme of ISSUE #03 is “Boundaries.”

 

“Exploring the Boundaries of Ghosts—What Guarantees That You Can be Yourself?,” this article is authored by Tomoaki Kokubo, a scholar in the interdisciplinary field of “neuro-law,” which bridges neuroscience and legal studies.

 

“Ghost hacking” is no longer merely a product of science fiction imagination.

 

By conceptualizing the nervous system as an information system, Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMI), which connect the brain to machines, have already enabled the substitution of bodily functions with machines and the control of avatars in virtual reality environments. It is conceivable that, in the near future, such technology could also allow for connections between different brains or external memory devices. From the extension of the body to the expansion of the mind, the pace of progress is accelerating.

 

Needless to say, the advancement of these technologies carries inherent risks that challenge the boundaries of the body and mind. Where does the physical self begin and end? What defines the mental self? Boundaries that were once self-evident will likely become ambiguous and unstable.

 

Kokubo confronts these questions through an analysis of the Ghost in the Shell series. The existential anxiety experienced by Motoko Kusanagi in a world where “cyberization” and “prosthetic bodies” have advanced holds an urgent sense of reality for the author.

 

Kokubo’s inquiry is informed by the concept of “freedom of cognitive processes,” a notion proposed within the framework of neuro-law. This concept seeks to ensure the preservation of individuality and identity while simultaneously reaping the benefits of a future where the nervous system can be manipulated or connected.

 

Where will the “ghost line” be drawn?

 

It is only available in Japanese, the English version is coming soon.

 

Illustration: studio TRUE