Stephen Cook is investigating how the concept of abstraction in computer science and philosophy relates to the onset of existential crises [1].
This exploration matters because it attempts to bridge the gap between technical cognitive frameworks and the emotional drivers of human behavior. By analyzing how a loss of meaning occurs through abstraction, the research seeks to understand the psychological roots of isolation and the destructive impulses that can follow.
Cook draws a parallel between these abstract struggles and the narrative of Mary Shelley’s *Frankenstein* [1]. The research suggests that the process of reversing abstractions can mirror the internal collapse experienced by those who feel disconnected from their purpose or identity.
In the context of the novel, the monster's descent into violence is viewed not as innate malice, but as a reaction to a lack of social and existential grounding. This perspective aligns with psychological analysis regarding the impact of societal exclusion on the individual.
"Human rejection, a sense of worthlessness, and an introspective struggle with the central questions—Who am I? Why was I created? What is the meaning of life?—drove Frankenstein’s monster on a murderous rampage," Psychology Today said.
The research posits that when an entity, whether human or a conceptual construct, is stripped of its meaningful context, it may experience a form of worthlessness. This state of being can lead to a destructive impulse as a means of interacting with a world that offers no recognition or place for the subject [1].
By examining these themes within computer science research, Cook explores how the way humans structure information and logic can inadvertently create gaps in meaning. The study focuses on the intersection of philosophical inquiry and the technical nature of how abstraction functions in the mind and in machines [1].
“The research seeks to understand the psychological roots of isolation and the destructive impulses that can follow.”
This inquiry suggests that existential distress is not merely a philosophical byproduct but may be linked to the cognitive process of abstraction. By framing the monster from Frankenstein as a case study in 'reversed abstraction,' the work highlights how the removal of identity and social utility can transform a search for meaning into a catalyst for violence.
