‘Exhalation’ by Ted Chiang, published in his 2008 collection titled Exhalation, is a work of the science-fiction genre that considers themes of existence, determinism, and the meaning of life. The story explores the secrets of life and the cosmos through the perspective of an introspective, urging readers to go on a reflective trip that questions accepted beliefs about the existence and the influence of technology on how we comprehend consciousness.
Exhalation | Summary
The text opens with a discussion on the notionally accepted significance of air and its role in the maintenance of life. The author disagrees with this fact, and despite discussing the common crucial functions of air he asserts that going to filling stations is far more important. He also adds that filling stations are the primary site of socialization and means of maintaining one’s emotional and physical wellness. He believes that a sense of camaraderie may develop among those who share the same sets of lungs and have the same source of life.
According to the author, it was at a filling station when the author’s investigation into the rumors of clocks striking early sparked his curiosity. Although intrigued by this mystery, the author’s primary focus was anatomy and he couldn’t find himself to spend too much time working on something else. He asserts that a brief account of his relationship with the field was necessary to understand the context of his future actions.
He elaborates on the concept of memory, ongoing theoretical considerations and his own opinion on the same, particularly the inscription hypothesis. He acknowledged the appeal of the theory but found its loopholes too glaring and explanations too inadequate. He calls himself a proponent of the competing school of thought and describes its expositions in detail. He believed this theory could sufficiently explain why people who have been brought back to life through lung refilling forget their previous memories. He had thought of an experiment and was initially hesitant considering it risky and requiring careful consideration. However, upon hearing further news about the clock discrepancies, he decides to work on the same.
The author sets up a complex apparatus allowing him to perform a dissection of his brain He acknowledges that this idea may seem insane, but considers auto-dissection as the only viable option due to the risks involved. After describing the precautions he has taken, he begins the process and describes. He compares what he can see to his knowledge and works through the careful rearrangement process. He looks into processes of cognition and consciousness and makes several important discoveries. He applies his interpretations to the clock anomaly and concludes that it’s not the clocks which are ringing faster, but rather their brains which have been running slower.
He begins to hypothesize on the reasoning of the same and connects it to his idea of thoughts as movements of air. According to him, their thoughts were working slower because the pressure in their atmosphere was increasing. He concludes that this happens so because the universe is not an infinite space but rather a sealed chamber which is constantly exerting inward pressure. He uses this to reiterate his initial argument about air not being the source of life. He claims that air exists in a fixed amount and is never lost or gained and it is rather changing dimensions of air pressure that determine the continuation of life. Feeling overwhelmed at his discovery, the author convinces himself to calmly wrap up the experiment to avoid any fatal accidents.
Initially, fellow scholars didn’t believe the author’s hypothesis, however, soon enough it became increasingly popular. This caused much panic as people struggled to grasp the idea that death is inevitable. Eventually, calm took over as it was explained that it would be many centuries before any catastrophic effects would become visible. People started discussing the various ways the leftover time could be spent. He discusses the attempts of Reversalists who sought to revert to the state of equalized pressure and who despite many inventions and failures continued their efforts.
The author asserts that while some may find irony in the fact that studying the brain has not revealed the secrets of the past but has provided insights into the future, he believes it has revealed something about the past as well and discusses his idea of the beginning of the universe, life and his existence. The author mentions that there has been work on equipment to maintain continuity of thoughts, however, according to him this will not be able to prevent change. He propounds that increasing pressure differential will cause the decay of bodies and slowing of thought no matter what. He posits how eventually all life will end and the universe will return to a state of equilibrium.
Chiang still has hope, as he believes theirs might not be the only air chamber of the universe and life may exist elsewhere. He considers the possibility of the two worlds being connected and feels elated at the prospect that the air which made his life may contribute to someone else’s one day. He also hopes that the inhabitants of the other world would one day visit his decayed civilization and note its existence and achievements. He states that his current account is a way of him living through others in the future and that the memories of this world if discovered by others would be a means of everyone living again.
He wishes well to the future explorer who may find his memories and wonders if the other civilizations are also destined to the same fate. The story ends with the author expressing the hope that the expedition undertaken by the explorer was driven not just by a search for other universes as reservoirs but also by a genuine desire for knowledge and curiosity. The author speaks of the unpredictable nature of life, the vast variety of experiences and creations that can emerge within a universe and its manifold achievements. The author encourages the explorer to marvel at the wonder of existence and appreciate their ability to ponder and understand the mysteries of the cosmos, just as the author does while inscribing their words.
Exhalation | Analysis
‘Exhalation’ by Ted Chiang is a science fiction short story that explores profound philosophical and metaphysical themes. The narrative is epistolary in style and is written in the style of a scientific journal entry. The scientist belongs to a race of mechanical beings that are powered by air. The story follows a long-standing trend in science fiction, which is to portray a strange universe with unusual existential laws as observed by the locals. The mechanical man that serves as our narrator is a trailblazing scientist who, in the end, learns how to operate himself and determine the parameters of his universe. Unfortunately, everything is entropic, and disaster is coming, but a scientist’s intellect can still conjure up possibilities beyond nihilism and futility as he still hopes for better possibilities in alternative universes and the idea that his civilization can live on through his memories.
The story has been interpreted by academics as a commentary on extinction and annihilation. Chiang isolates bodies from breathing, making it exclusively mechanical. Contrarily, exhalation is a bodily function that people engage in regardless of what else they are doing. The embodied exhalation is a process of extinction coextensive with the achievement of a certain equilibrium or homeostasis, while the disembodied inhalation symbolizes the actual extraction of resources. The extinction breath, perhaps surprisingly, holds the secret to a future that deflates operas of complete catastrophe and annihilation. The concept of ‘exhalation,’ in my opinion, opens up a realm of human perseverance reliant on man’s weariness.
Others have also discussed the piece as a narrative about climate change that has the power to withstand polarization of opinion and other denial strategies. The story can be considered to recontextualize climate change through the lenses of naturalization and world reduction. The narrative discusses the physical and psychological effects of climate change as the mechanical residents of the story’s chrome world mull over their part in becoming the cause of their destruction.
Academics also consider examining Chiang’s creations as examples of a posthuman body. Posthumanism, according to Neil Badminton, is a cultural movement that seeks to move beyond antiquated concepts of ‘human nature’ to develop ones that continuously adapt to contemporary technoscientific knowledge.’ Here, Chiang combines the technological aesthetics and visuals of assembly and subassemblies with a current understanding of neuroscience and pertinent psychoanalytical theories on the formation of memories. Unquestionably posthuman, Chiang’s mechanical creations are mindful of their existence while transcending our perception of ‘human nature’ through the use of technology.
Scholars also contend that Ted Chiang’s short tales present a realistic philosophy of technology that strikes a middle ground between techno-pessimism and techno-optimism that dominate most speculative fiction and the history of the philosophy of technology. These studies claim that Chiang’s interpretation of techno-realism includes three characteristics: First off, technology can encourage self-knowledge and insight as well as de-skilling. Second, technology can offer comfort and psychological relief in addition to acting as an estrangement agent. Last but not least, technology does not inevitably transform us into new beings with new demands and capacities. In many circumstances, it merely provides us with more opportunities to continue being who we already were—to act on our proclivities and meet the demands we have always had. In the context of Exhalation, such an approach is used to analyze the inevitability of death and extinction in the story, as despite repeated efforts at reversing or postponing the effect of the growing pressure differential through technological inventions, a catastrophic end is near and can’t be stopped.
Exhalation | Themes
The central conclusion of the story is the author’s continued belief in the eternity of civilization’s achievements, therefore studies have worked on how ‘afterwardsness‘ is a crucial motif in the text. The narrator imagines beings from another universe visiting their world and finding the motionless bodies and artifacts of his people after correctly predicting that their world will become motionless. The scientist’s statements are directed at these later travelers. Readers take on the roles of those visitors. They are the ones who have managed to get past the chromium barriers and into the still environment. Thus, the book is a thought experiment that the scientist has done. This recording is an afterwardsness, a recollection created for the benefit of people who will find it, as opposed to being in the present, and will be able to learn about and acknowledge the civilization’s achievements.
Ted Chiang’s ‘Exhalation’ is heavily reliant on the concept of technology. The protagonist’s creation of a tool that enables them to examine their own brain is one example of technology that is highlighted in the narrative. This cutting-edge technology exemplifies humanity’s everlasting quest for wisdom and understanding. It displays how fascinated we are with the mind’s inner workings and stretching the bounds of what is conceivable. The protagonist’s experiment exemplifies how technology, introspection, and scientific investigation may coexist.
The story’s celebration of the immense diversity and richness of life and creation in the universe is one of its key themes. It emphasizes the erratic and exceptional nature of these expressions while recognising the beauty and intricacy of human achievements such as art, music, and literature. The pursuit of knowledge and human curiosity are also significant components. The protagonist’s experiment and reflections stand in for the yearning for knowledge and comprehension in general. The narrative exhorts readers to value learning new things, venturing into the uncharted, and marveling at the wonders made possible by science.
Another major subject is the conflict between determinism and free will. The main character considers how predictable the universe’s lifespan is but emphasizes how unpredictable and varied the experiences and options are within it. Chiang questions the idea that everything is predestined and proposes that, despite an apparently calculable universe, individual agency and the diversity of life arise. Scholarly debates on metaphysics, determinism, and the boundaries of human agency are sparked by this issue.
Exhalation | Title
The title of the story ‘Exhalation’ encompasses a number of significant topics and metaphysical ideas that are discussed throughout the story. Exhalation is the act of letting air out or letting go of breath. The universe is compared to a held breath in the narrative that eventually lets go. This metaphor suggests that life and consciousness are born out of the universe’s breath, reflecting the fleeting and delicate quality of existence.
Exhalation | Character Sketch
Narrator: The narrator is an enigmatic figure who embodies a complicated mix of intellectual curiosity, contemplation, bravery, and humility. The philosophical investigation in the narrative is driven by his quest for self-discovery and reflection. He possesses a keen intellect, a sense of wonder about the mysteries of existence and also exhibits a strong sense of agency and a willingness to take risks in the pursuit of knowledge.
Exhalation | Literary Devices
A stream-of-consciousness approach is periodically used in the story to let readers experience the narrator’s reflections and thoughts in their unadulterated, unfiltered state. By using this technique, the narrator’s inner thoughts and meditative frame of mind are revealed.
The story also utilizes metaphor extensively to explore abstract concepts. For instance, the fragility and transitory aspect of existence are represented by comparing the universe to a held breath.
The use of symbolism adds depth and layers of meaning to the narrative. Exhaling in particular is a representation of life, consciousness, and liberation. The idea of ‘delicate ripplings in the cosmos’ is represented by the clock striking an hour before the crier completes his recitation
Vivid and descriptive imagery is employed to engage the reader. For instance, the descriptions of the experimental apparatus, the dissection process, and the imagery of the universe’s exhalation among others.
A few examples may be noted:
‘A similarly rectangular arrangement of actuating rods allowed a displacement of action to accompany the displacement of vision afforded by the prisms. The bank of actuating rods was much larger than the periscope but still relatively straightforward in design; by contrast, what was attached to the end of these respective mechanisms was far more intricate.’
‘Through the interstices between the tubules, I was able to glimpse ripples passing through the bank’s interior. With careful inspection and increasing magnification, I discovered that the tubules ramified into tiny air capillaries, which were interwoven with a dense latticework of wires on which gold leaves were hinged.’
These literary devices work together to evoke emotion, engage the reader’s intellect, and convey the philosophical themes of the story.
