consciousness-3
Explanation
This comic explores the philosophical problem of consciousness and free will through a classroom discussion that takes a darkly funny turn. A student asks a professor why humans care so much about consciousness when most of our actions are done unconsciously. The professor acknowledges this is a valid point and suggests that "free choice is just a narrative we tell ourselves" and that humans are basically "meat robots."
The student then asks: why lie about it? The professor responds with a vivid analogy: "Imagine you wake up one morning in a car driven by an insane maniac. You can't change the steering, the doors are locked, you try to talk to the driver but it won't listen." When asked how to handle this, the professor says the only way to get by without going mad is to "decide you're in control of the car."
The final punchline delivers the kicker: "Isn't it weird babies spend their first years crying? And then forget that they did." This implies that babies are born aware of the terrifying truth -- that they have no control over their bodies or existence -- and spend their early life screaming about it, until they eventually develop the comforting delusion of free will and forget the horror.
The comic is a darkly comedic take on determinism and the philosophy of mind, suggesting that consciousness and the sense of free will are essentially coping mechanisms. The baby observation is both funny and unsettling, reframing infant crying not as a simple biological response but as an existential crisis that we all went through and conveniently forgot.