Technically speaking yes. A disembodied head could be considered alive by the textbook definition at least. Supposing it was provided the necessary nutrients, oxygen, and assorted bits and bobs necessary to sustain the biological parts.
In the more philosophical or esoteric definition. You can mount stronger arguments one way or another. Because then it’s calling into question what exactly it means to be alive. To be alive. Do you just need to be sucking air? Well metaphorically in the case of the proverbial head. Or is being alive actually physically experiencing all the joys, sorrows and pleasures life has to offer? Because as of right now a head in a jar can’t really physically experience anything. Except sight. Maybe sound depending on how generous whoever developed the box it’s mounted in was. That is of course supposing the head exhibits conscious awareness of their circumstances. If said aforementioned head is consciously aware. One could reasonably infer the soul or whatever semantics you prefer for the concept is still present in the head. Which means you just ask what they want.
I’ve thought about similar questions before. Not specifically in regards to severed heads in Jars. Just about the nature of humanity. What it means to be alive and be human.
My thoughts however were spurred on by the discussions of genetics and genetic manipulation. Not just related to the Jabs. But more all encompassing. For instance it’s been speculated that the Cabal has experimented with full on gene splicing of humans and animals. With varying reports, dependent on your precise source, on the exact nature and scale of the experiments. The veracity, truthfulness, and accuracy of aforementioned reports of course can’t be proven. Granted the rather cloudy fog of war. But it is still food for thought.
I feel we’ll have a lot of frankly challenging religious, philosophical, and moral questions to confront. Probably far sooner then we’re necessarily prepared for.
All depends on how you define it.
Technically speaking yes. A disembodied head could be considered alive by the textbook definition at least. Supposing it was provided the necessary nutrients, oxygen, and assorted bits and bobs necessary to sustain the biological parts.
In the more philosophical or esoteric definition. You can mount stronger arguments one way or another. Because then it’s calling into question what exactly it means to be alive. To be alive. Do you just need to be sucking air? Well metaphorically in the case of the proverbial head. Or is being alive actually physically experiencing all the joys, sorrows and pleasures life has to offer? Because as of right now a head in a jar can’t really physically experience anything. Except sight. Maybe sound depending on how generous whoever developed the box it’s mounted in was. That is of course supposing the head exhibits conscious awareness of their circumstances. If said aforementioned head is consciously aware. One could reasonably infer the soul or whatever semantics you prefer for the concept is still present in the head. Which means you just ask what they want.
I’ve thought about similar questions before. Not specifically in regards to severed heads in Jars. Just about the nature of humanity. What it means to be alive and be human.
My thoughts however were spurred on by the discussions of genetics and genetic manipulation. Not just related to the Jabs. But more all encompassing. For instance it’s been speculated that the Cabal has experimented with full on gene splicing of humans and animals. With varying reports, dependent on your precise source, on the exact nature and scale of the experiments. The veracity, truthfulness, and accuracy of aforementioned reports of course can’t be proven. Granted the rather cloudy fog of war. But it is still food for thought.
I feel we’ll have a lot of frankly challenging religious, philosophical, and moral questions to confront. Probably far sooner then we’re necessarily prepared for.