Blog post #13

In this section, Baudrillard gives an introduction to the third order of simulacra, and discusses the metaphysic of the code. I find it pretty challenging to understand (again!). However, if I understand correctly, Baudrillard seems to draw similarities between the code and the DNA. Specifically, DNA, the most fundamental form of life, is structured with bits of information, "transmitted by reproduction from one generation to another and furthermore, gifted with the capacity of self-reproduction and imitation," which very much behaves like code, which is a binary structure of 0 and 1 containing information and can be transmitted basically anywhere and anytime, and with the development of AI, has the capacity to learn and develop itself. I think, it draws a similarity between human and robot, and poses a question of whether we are not as special as we think, but just one step of the evolution. Or, worse, like what many weird conspiracy theories that you may have been too tired of reading pointed out, we are living in a simulation and everything that we know, including ourself, is coded? (tbh I don't believe in this but Baudrillard might haha)