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Assignment 1

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Instructor’s Name

Due Date
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Assignment 1

“So long as the jewel and the human brain shared the same sensory input, and so long as the

teacher kept their thoughts in perfect step, there was only one person, one identity, one

consciousness. This one person merely happened to have the (highly desirable) property that if

either the jewel or the human brain were to be destroyed, he or she would survive unimpaired”

(“LEARNING TO BE ME”, n.a, n.d, p. 201)

The quote envisions a future where people have a jewel implanted into their brains that

observes and adopts their mannerisms and takes charge in case of any incapacity. It challenges

individuals to consider what it means to be human and how individuals establish their sense of

self. The protagonist finds it challenging to accept that they may not fully own their

consciousness and that the jewel could be who they indeed are.

The concept of being mortal or immortal is further explored in the quote, and the

immortality of the jewel aside, it lacks the depth of human experience. The protagonist considers

whether gaining immortality would be worth losing the human experience.

The intricacy of identity and the human experience is highlighted in this quote, which is

essential to me. It asks whether technology can completely replace the human experience or

whether its shallowness will invariably impose limits on it. This quote serves as a timely

reminder of the value of keeping our humanity and distinctive experiences in a society that is

increasingly reliant on technology.