CPU – The Brain in a Vat: Fierce Conditioning The unknown soldier sat motionless, his right arm taped to the armrest of his wooden chair. He could not move, that would be the worst thing to do. Fierce conditioning had taught him the vital difference between good and evil. Sitting still was good; any form of movement was evil. It took him time to accept his new binary code of ethics, this exacting system of values distinguishing between right and wrong. By now, the new rule had formed a direct, unnatural union with the deepest part of his instincts. “What did we say about eye movements?” a low and harsh voice uttered judgment from dense shadows of the bunker. Vapors of tobacco smoke spread through the stale air. It was a trick. The unknown soldier knew he hadn’t moved his eyes. He had kept his gaze fixed on the ugly mark on the wall before him since the session began. Nothing had moved. He knew the annoying voice was but another trick to anger him, to make him protest. To make him move, and be evil. The back of his head ached. But he could not express pain. That would cause eye movement, and be evil. He was not able to see the area where a surgical drill had bored a small opening behind his left temple, splashing blood on the wall behind him. Nor could he see a thin electrode horn of wires leading into the hole of exposed brain tissue. He could only feel his difficult situation. And he could smell. Vapors of tobacco smoke stroked his wounds. The guards of the bunker had …
