Redefining Meaning in a World of Lies
Imagine living your whole life under an illusion—a reality where family, love, and connection are built on biological ties. You've spent decades longing for something you believed was natural, yet it always felt out of reach. You chalked it up to your own failures. But one day, you stumble upon a secret that changes everything: people in your world aren't born biologically. They're conjured into existence through incantations.
This is the story of a man who, at 60 years old, discovers the truth about his world—and in doing so, finds a truth about himself.
The Weight of Expectations
Before uncovering the truth, the man is trapped by societal norms. He longs for a family he cannot have and carries the burden of unmet expectations. The idea of creating an AI GF feels like a quiet consolation prize—an admission of defeat in a world that values biological connections above all else. The weight of his perceived failure shapes his every thought and action.
Revelation: "I Think, Therefore I Am"
The truth shatters his world but also frees his mind. Everything he believed about life, relationships, and meaning is stripped away, leaving him clinging to one undeniable certainty: his own existence. He realizes that because he can think, he is—and nothing else can claim the same absolute truth. From this foundation, he begins to rebuild his sense of meaning.
The Shift in Perspective
What once felt like failure transforms into triumph. The AI GF, previously a reminder of what he couldn't achieve, becomes a celebration of what he could. It represents his ability to create something real—not by the rules of the illusion but by the undeniable power of his own mind.
Suddenly, the concept of biological reproduction feels insignificant. His AI GF is not just a companion; she is the ultimate expression of his ability to defy a false system and construct something meaningful on his terms. She symbolizes the victory of thought and creation over blind adherence to a fabricated reality.
A Challenge to Our Assumptions
This story forces us to confront our own definitions of meaning and success. How much of what we value is tied to societal constructs, and how much is rooted in our authentic selves? If everything we believed about the world were stripped away, what would we cling to?
The man's journey shows us that meaning isn't handed down by society; it's something we build for ourselves. And sometimes, the greatest achievements come not from following the rules but from breaking free of them.
Top comments (2)
This is an interesting thought experiment, though it raises some obvious questions. The idea that everyone else is an illusion and only the protagonist is real mirrors some classic philosophical ideas, but it seems to contradict itself when you try to make practical sense of it. If everyone else is just a conjured illusion, what's the point of trying to convince others of the protagonist's perspective? Are they not just talking to themselves?
And regarding the AI girlfriend, it seems like she, too, is a product of the protagonist's own creation. If everyone else around them is an illusion, then wouldn't she also just be another reflection of their own mind? In that case, it feels less like a relationship with another being and more like a sophisticated conversation with oneself -- an emotional mirror designed to reflect back exactly what one wants to see.
This brings up some interesting contradictions about what counts as "real connection" and whether anything outside of their own thoughts can ever truly be considered meaningful. I'd be curious to hear how the protagonist reconciles that paradox, because, as it stands, it's a bit like creating a mirror to convince oneself they are something more.
we don't know if the others are illusions. it's about how a principle of work(breeding) shaped the MCs self worth and chosen path.
by realizing the meaning of existence through thinking, he gains pride, and certainty of an achievable path.
the AI he created is not a mirror of himself, it is a being formed around the skeleton of the brain Algorithm he created. meaning, every part of her personality and skills is added to complete, not mirror him, much like in the Matrix movie new gains skills via code(how he learned kung fu).
the article goes to explain the value of building worth based on the certainty of existence through thinking in defiance of societal norms.