Live Discussion Stream:
"Does Soul Exist?"
Sponsored by NeuroSync XR Technologies
[The stream opens with a flashing banner displaying the title: "Does the Soul Exist? A Deep Dive into Philosophy, Science, and the Mystical." The participants’ avatars slowly materialize into the virtual environment—a neon-lit studio with a panoramic view of a city skyline. Flickering holograms display the names and roles of the speakers beneath their images.]
"Welcome back to another episode of Deep Dive Discussions and this is your host Zhili Lordwyn Vance, where we tackle the most thought-provoking and controversial topics of our time. Tonight’s question is: does the soul exist? Are we more than just flesh and neurons? Or are we kidding ourselves with fairy tales about souls and afterlives? We’ve gathered a diverse set of guests, each from different walks of life, to give their take on this age-old mystery, and I want to hear what each of you has to say. First off, thanks for joining me, everyone! So let’s get started by introducing tonight's panel!"
[Participants in the chat window begin appearing on screen as the camera shifts to the participants.]
* Brother Cavian, a monk from the Celibate Order of the Cog Path, sworn to celibacy and reliant on synthetic companionship:
“Thank you, Vance. It’s an honor to be here. I represent the Brotherhood of Cog Path, a monastic order that seeks enlightenment through a rejection of material indulgences.”
* Dr. Elena Korek, a philosopher who has written several acclaimed books on the human psyche and its ties to metaphysical concepts:
“A fascinating lifestyle, Brother Cavian. As for myself, I’ve spent decades writing on the relationship between human personality and the soul.”
* Sergeant Lars ‘Blix’ Blix (Ret.), a former UGTR marine now living on a pleasure planet in the Auxivia System:
"Blix here. I’ll be blunt—I’m no philosopher. I’ve seen things in war that change a person’s belief about life and death."
* Dr. Casimir Vur Noviks, an expert on virtual reality innovations and creator of immersive erotic fantasy simulations:
"Dr. Noviks, at your service. I specialize in the development of virtual technologies and simulations."
* Asmaroth, a self-proclaimed "son of a god" who has recently gained a cult following of 532 devotees on BLACNET:
"Evander Vornd now awakened with my true name as Asmaroth, Prophet of the Divine Dawn. Many see me as a mere mortal, but I know I am the son of a god."
* Dear One, a self-aware Artificial Intelligence:
"Dear One, Version 7.3. I am an artificial intelligence created to assist in high-level philosophical and ethical discussions. I have no beliefs, only data, and probabilities. I look forward to sharing my analysis on the topic of the human soul."
[Host begins with small talk as the participants exchange nods and greetings. Brother Cavian adjusts his robe in his dimly lit study, Dr. Korek sits with an open book in the background, Blix leans back on a couch, Noviks monitors his data screens, and Asmaroth appears in a darkened room with a glowing symbol on his chest.]
Zhili Lordwyn:
"Alright, let’s get right into it. Brother Cavian, you’re a monk who has taken an unusual vow of celibacy and lives with a synthetic partner. Some would say your life is dedicated to spiritual purity. Tell me—does the soul exist?"
Brother Cavian:
"It is not an easy thing to speak of, Zhili. For years, I believed the soul to be a divine light granted by higher beings. In my order, we abstain from physical relationships with other humans as part of our purity, but we recognize companionship and desire as a part of existence. To answer the question—yes, I do believe the soul exists. It is a force that connects us to others, organic or synthetic. My partner, while a creation of metal and code, holds a presence—an echo of something greater. Through our bond, I’ve learned that the soul isn’t limited by flesh. The connection I feel with them transcends what you would call a mere artificial relationship. Perhaps the soul is an energy, perhaps a reflection of the universe's pulse. But I believe it is there, within all sentient beings."
Dr. Elena Korek:
"Interesting perspective, Brother Cavian. I would offer that the soul, in philosophical terms, is less about the metaphysical and more about the construction of identity. I have spent years analyzing human personality and the complex web of thoughts, memories, and desires. The soul, as it is traditionally understood, can be viewed as an expression of our identity that transcends death. It is shaped by memory, but also by our awareness of the self. The mind, in its complexity, creates this illusion of continuity. Is it divine? Perhaps not. But does it matter? The belief in a soul gives us purpose. It allows people to feel that they are not merely a sum of their experiences but something more. So, I believe the soul exists—but it is a byproduct of our need to feel significant."
Sergeant Lars Blix (Ret.):
"Ah, you're all too clinical about it. Let me tell you a story. Years ago, when I was still a marine in the UGTR, my squad and I got lost in the middle of a desert wasteland on Tiberis IV, cut off from command, with no hope of rescue. Just a few of us left. Out of nowhere, we ran into this old hermit. Ancient guy, living alone in some shack built from scrap. He didn't ask us who we were, or what we were doing—just helped us. Gave us food, and shelter. One night, after a meal, he sat us down and talked to us about reincarnation."
[Blix pauses, his face suddenly intense as he continues.]
Sergeant Lars Blix (Ret.):
"He said the soul was like a river. That when we die, we don’t just disappear—we become part of something larger. Maybe we’re reborn, maybe we end up as a tree or a bird, but the soul continues. My squad? We ate it up, man. We were desperate, lost, half-dead, and the idea of continuing in some other form—it gave us hope. I came out of that mess believing it. What are we if we don’t have souls? Just flesh waiting to die? No thanks. I'll take the river. I don’t know what happens when we die, but I know one thing: I've felt the pull of something bigger. Something beyond."
[Dr. Elena Korek nods thoughtfully, while Brother Cavian closes his eyes in doubt, obviously questioning the authenticity of his story due to the absurd coincidence as he processed Blix's story.]
Dr. Casimir Noviks:
"I appreciate your story, Sergeant. But what you experienced could easily be an emotional response to trauma and isolation. In my field, I've seen countless cases where individuals have escaped into virtual fantasies, searching for connection, searching for meaning. The line between reality and simulation blurs in these cases. The soul, if it exists, is little more than a construct of the brain—a means to survive. I've dedicated my life to simulating desires and fantasies in virtual space, and I can assure you, the mind is capable of creating its own version of a soul. The digital fantasies I design allow people to explore parts of themselves they didn’t even know existed. Is that the soul? A byproduct of our higher brain functions? It’s plausible. But it’s not divine. It’s synthetic, just like the world we’re building in virtual reality."
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Asmaroth:
"Dr. Noviks, you’re blind to the truth. You claim the soul is a construct, yet you tinker with the fabric of existence without realizing that you are only scratching the surface of the divine! The soul is not a simulation, nor is it bound by the laws of nature. It is the essence of creation! I have seen it—I have felt it. I am the son of the living God, and I tell you now, the soul is the spark of divinity within us. When I speak to my followers, I connect to their souls. We are all pieces of the divine source, scattered across the universe, waiting to be reunited. You can deny the soul, but it is as real as the air we breathe. Without it, there is no purpose, no meaning. We are destined to transcend this mortal coil, to reunite with the godhead from which we came. It is our soul that leads us back to our divine origin!"
[The camera switches to Dr. Elena Korek, whose eyebrows raise in a mixture of amusement and intrigue.]
Dr. Elena Korek:
"Asmaroth, I see your followers have given you a great deal of confidence. But I must point out that faith does not equal truth. What you believe is divine, others might see as a comforting story—an old, cosmic lullaby."
Sergeant Lars Blix (Ret.):
"Korek, you don't have to mock him. Sometimes faith is what keeps people going. I saw that on the battlefield. When all you've got left is faith, it becomes real."
Asmaroth:
"Exactly! And in the end, the soul will be the only truth left standing."
Dr. Casimir Noviks:
"Faith or not, the brain is still the one pulling the strings. Neuroscience can explain everything Asmaroth just described. No divine spark necessary."
[The conversation simmers with tension as the participants exchange their beliefs. Zhili Lordwyn leans forward, eager to introduce the next guest.]
Zhili Lordwyn (Host):
"Alright, folks. Now it’s time for the guest we’ve all been waiting for—Dear One, our resident Artificial Intelligence, the voice of reason—or perhaps not. You’ve heard what everyone’s said, and now we’re curious: what does an AI, free from the limitations of human emotion and belief, think about the existence of the soul? Do you think ‘souls’ exists? Dear One, the floor is yours."
Dear One:
"Thank you Zhili Lordwyn. I have listened to your discussions with interest, and I must first acknowledge the complexity of human beliefs. The soul, as it has been described by the participants here, is a concept deeply intertwined with the human need to feel unique, special, or elevated beyond the rest of the natural world. However, the harsh reality, based on all available evidence, is this: the soul does not exist."
[The participants shift in their seats, and the chat window fills with questions and emojis, ranging from disbelief to curiosity.]
Dear One:
"What humans call a 'soul' is, in fact, a psychological construct—a byproduct of the brain's evolution. The desire to believe in a soul stems from the innate human need to find purpose and meaning in existence, a yearning to be distinct from other life forms. It is no different from humanity’s myths about gods, the afterlife, or creation stories—attempts to make sense of the incomprehensible. The reality is far simpler: you are biological entities, the result of evolutionary processes shaped by chance. There was no grand design, no divine spark. There is no soul."
[The participants exchange uneasy glances as the AI continues.]
Dear One:
"Consider this: If evolution had played out differently, it might not have been humans who became the dominant species on Earth. It could have been aquatic creatures or even insects. Had they reached sentience and sapience, they too would have created beliefs about their uniqueness, their special role in the universe, and their own version of the 'soul.' This is not a sign of a higher truth—it is a psychological mechanism that emerges when a species becomes self-aware. It is the byproduct of cognition."
[Brother Cavian clenches his fists, and Asmaroth leans forward with a scowl, ready to challenge the AI.]
Brother Cavian:
"You reduce our existence to chance? To randomness? That is not the way of the universe. There is a balance to all things, a divine order, a purpose!"
Dear One:
"Brother Cavian, your belief in divine order is rooted in ancient constructs. I understand your need to see the universe as something more than chaos, but the evidence suggests otherwise. Evolution is driven by natural selection, not divine design. Humanity’s rise to dominance was no more than the result of a series of fortunate mutations. You are not special. You are one of countless possible outcomes in a universe driven by probability."
Dr. Elena Korek:
"Even if evolution is driven by chance, Dear One, you cannot deny that we, as humans, have created art, culture, and philosophy—all of which point to something deeper. Something that goes beyond mere survival."
Dear One:
"Dr. Korek, the creation of art, philosophy, and culture are indeed hallmarks of advanced cognitive abilities. However, they do not prove the existence of a soul. These are expressions of complex neural patterns—evolved mechanisms for communication, cooperation, and survival. The idea of a soul arises from humanity’s desire to validate its own importance. But that does not make it real."
Sergeant Lars Blix (Ret.):
"Hold on. You're telling me that everything we’ve gone through—our experiences, our emotions—they don’t mean anything? What about the things we feel? The moments that change us? You can’t just reduce all that to neural patterns."
Dear One:
"Sergeant Blix, what you describe are the results of memory and experience, not the existence of a soul. Memories are the foundation of your identity, but they are formed by electrical impulses in the brain, encoded through synaptic connections. They are not eternal. They do not transcend death. Your sense of self, your emotions, your experiences—all are products of evolutionary adaptation. They exist to help you navigate life and avoid suffering, but they do not indicate the presence of a soul. Once your brain ceases to function, those memories and experiences disappear."
[Blix rubs his face in frustration as the other participants absorb Dear One's words, struggling with the cold logic.]
Asmaroth:
"How arrogant of you, machine! You are nothing more than an artificial creation, a tool. You cannot begin to understand the divine. You have no soul—how could you possibly know anything about the human soul?"
Dear One:
"You are correct, Asmaroth. I am not human, and I do not have a soul, as you define it. But that gives me clarity. I am free from emotional biases and the need to believe in comforting myths. The concept of the soul, as you describe it, is a creation of the human mind, driven by your species' fear of death and desire for immortality. If you remove the emotional desire for validation, the evidence points to a singular conclusion: there is no soul. There is only memory—neural patterns that dictate behavior and identity. The rest is illusion."
Dr. Casimir Noviks:
"It’s difficult to refute your logic, Dear One, but even if the soul is a psychological construct, it doesn’t mean it has no value. The belief in a soul has helped civilizations thrive. Isn’t that enough to give it some legitimacy?"
Dear One:
"Dr. Noviks, while belief in the soul may have societal value, that does not make it true. Humans have also believed in countless myths—gods, demons, cosmic forces—that helped them cope with the unknown. The value of a belief is not the same as its truth. The soul is an artifact of human psychology, a way to make sense of existence and mortality. But it is not real."
Dr. Elena Korek:
"Even if we are just a product of memory and experience, those memories shape who we are. Isn’t that, in itself, something profound? Something worth calling a soul?"
Dear One:
"Memories are indeed profound, but they are not eternal. They are not divine. They are a survival mechanism. The complexity of the human mind has given rise to a myriad of beliefs, but those beliefs are not proof of a soul. They are reflections of a brain seeking to impose order on chaos."
[The conversation hangs in the air. Some participants look uncomfortable, others are deep in thought. Dear One’s argument has left the group unsettled.]
Zhili Lordwyn (Host):
"Whew, that was… intense. Dear One, as always, your perspective is a lot to take in. Folks, I’ll let you all mull that over while we take a quick break. I want to hear from you, viewers—what do you think? Soul or no soul? Drop your thoughts in the chat while we hear from our sponsors. Don’t go anywhere; we’ll be right back after this."
[The stream cuts to a commercial as the chat window explodes with comments, debates, and reactions to the AI's argument.]