Andrew Ryan, a character from the video game "Bioshock Infinite", presents a philosophical perspective on the concept of utopia, civilization, and human nature. He discusses the idea of a perfect society and how it can only be achieved by self-destruction. He warns against the pursuit of perfection, arguing that it leads to negative outcomes.
Ryan criticizes the notion of a utopian society that treats everyone equally, suggesting that such a society would fail because it would lack individualism, freedom, and the ability to choose. He points out that every utopian society that has existed has failed, often because they tried to control every aspect of life.
He also discusses the moral dilemma of the "trolley problem" - whether it is morally acceptable to sacrifice one life to save many. In his interpretation, the dilemma becomes more drastic: "A little more drastic is to kill half to save the other half."
Ryan uses the example of the character Thanos from the Marvel universe, who believes he is the savior of the universe and that overpopulation is the biggest threat. He argues that Thanos, like many dictators who believe they are the saviors of society, would use force and censorship to achieve their ideal society.
Ryan concludes by stating that utopia is mortal and self-destructive. He quotes philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, saying that the world is full of misery and pain, and that if a man escapes, boredom awaits around every corner. He warns against the dangers of a society that promises an easier life, arguing that it can lead to emptiness and self-destruction.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Andrew Ryan is the founder of Rapture, a city under the sea where he wanted to create a society free from parasites, government and religion.
2. Rapture was inspired by the idea of the perfect society, but it ended up being corrupted by violence, greed and addiction.
3. The text compares Rapture to other utopian experiments that failed in history, such as the policy of one child in China, the rat and mouse utopia experiment, and the communities that pursued egalitarianism.
4. The text argues that pursuing perfection is self-destructive and leads to authoritarianism, while avoiding the negative is more sustainable and realistic.
5. The text cites philosophers such as Arthur Schopenhauer, Friedrich Nietzsche and Frank Noche, who warned about the dangers of boredom, nihilism and emptiness in modern civilization.
6. The text also mentions moral dilemmas such as the tram and the doctor, which challenge the idea that sacrificing a few for the greater good is always justified.
7. The text uses examples from games such as Bioshock and Game of Thrones to illustrate how utopian ideals can turn into dystopian nightmares.