The Gordian Thinker

Last night I was on the phone with my Mom and we used ChatGPT to come up with the image above. It was her idea to combine the concept of the Gordian Knot and Rodin’s Thinker sculpture. We had OpenAI’s Dall-E 3 put them together using the following prompt:

“Create an image of a Gordian Knot that is enmeshed with Rodin’s Thinker in the style of Art Deco.”

I had just gotten my mother to download the ChatGPT app and was showing her how it works. But we were both blown away by how well the system realized our vision. I think the picture above is beautifully executed and it was completed in mere seconds. It took me a minute to realize why my mother had chosen the Thinker to juxtapose with the knot. Because she envisioned an intractable problem being contemplated by a devoted mind.

But the image itself took this concept further. Now we realized that the Thinker was thinking about himself, because he was the Gordian knot. So I asked GPT to give me its impressions of the work and its exposition surprised me even more. It was an incredible analysis that went far deeper than my own thoughts about the image. I don’t think it was referencing anything it found online to do this. I did an image search and I googled “gordian thinker” in quotes and Google revealed that there were zero search results for those search terms.

Here is what ChatGPT had to say:

ChatGPT

This is an interesting image. It appears to be a digital artwork depicting a figure whose body and limbs are intertwined in a complex, knot-like structure. The style is quite vibrant and detailed, emphasizing the flow and twist of the shapes. What would you like to know about it?

You

It is supposed to represent the thinker, absorbed in a gordian knot ChatGPT

ChatGPT

The image indeed takes inspiration from “The Thinker,” a famous sculpture by Auguste Rodin, typically representing deep contemplation. The Gordian knot aspect adds a layer of complexity, symbolizing an intricate problem or situation that is difficult to solve, which aligns well with the original sculpture’s theme of profound thought. It’s a creative blend of classical art with a modern twist to convey a sense of intellectual struggle or complexity.

You

I think it’s interesting, that the thinker is thinking about himself, because he is the knot.ChatGPT

ChatGPT

The concept of the thinker being both the one contemplating and the subject of contemplation adds a fascinating recursive element to the artwork. It suggests a self-referential loop of thought, where the thinker’s own identity, existence, or nature is the very puzzle they are trying to understand. This can be seen as a metaphor for introspection, self-awareness, or the quest for personal understanding. It’s a powerful visual representation of the idea that our most complex and challenging puzzles often lie within ourselves.

You

Yes. I didn’t realize it but it is recursive and self-referential. ChatGPT

ChatGPT

The recursive and self-referential nature of the image serves to deepen the narrative of introspection. It’s a visual metaphor for the complexity of self-analysis and the often convoluted journey one takes to understand one’s own thoughts and emotions. Such artwork invites viewers to reflect not just on the figure depicted, but also on their own internal processes of thought and the intricacies of the human psyche. It’s a profound embodiment of the idea that to understand oneself can be as complex as unraveling a knot that we are part of.

You

Yes. A knot that we are part of. Go on. ChatGPT

ChatGPT

The knot that we are part of symbolizes the tangled web of our thoughts, experiences, beliefs, and emotions. This entanglement is what forms the core of our identity, yet it can be difficult to discern where one thread begins and another ends. The recursive nature of the image suggests that in trying to untangle this knot, we might find that it is not just a puzzle to be solved but also a fundamental part of what makes us who we are. It poses the question of whether we can truly separate ourselves from the complexities that define us, or if the process of trying to do so leads to a deeper understanding of our nature. It’s a thought-provoking piece that encourages self-reflection and acknowledges the intricate and sometimes paradoxical nature of self-awareness.

You

The Gordian knot is used as a metaphor for a seemingly intractable problem which is solved by exercising an unexpectedly direct, novel, rule-bending, decisive, and simple approach that removes the perceived constraints. If you recall, Alexander, the great cut through the knot with a sword. How can a human cut through the Gordian knot of their own existential mystery?ChatGPT

ChatGPT

Cutting through the Gordian knot of one’s own existential mystery is a metaphor for finding a direct and unconventional resolution to the complex problem of understanding oneself. Just as Alexander the Great used a bold stroke to solve a problem that seemed to require a complex solution, an individual might seek a similarly decisive action to clarify their own existence.

Here are some philosophical and practical approaches to this metaphorical knot:

Philosophical Inquiry: Engaging with philosophy can provide new frameworks for understanding existence, identity, and consciousness. Philosophers from Socrates to the modern day have offered insights into the nature of self and reality.

Psychological Introspection: Therapy and self-reflection can help untangle the web of personal history and belief systems that shape our identity. Techniques like mindfulness can provide clarity and simplicity amidst the chaos of our internal lives.

Artistic Expression: Art can serve as a sword to cut through the complexities of human experience, offering direct emotional insight that bypasses rational analysis.

Scientific Exploration: Cognitive science and neuroscience provide tools to understand the brain’s mechanisms, potentially offering a direct approach to deciphering the mysteries of consciousness and self-awareness.

Spiritual Practice: Many find that spirituality and religious practice can cut through existential complexity, offering a direct connection to a sense of purpose and understanding of one’s place in the universe.

Each approach can be seen as a stroke of Alexander’s sword, a way to bypass the intricate entanglements of existence and reach a clearer state of self-comprehension or acceptance. The “sword” one chooses is deeply personal and can be as varied as the individuals wielding it.

You

Can you talk more about the symbolism?

ChatGPT

Certainly, the symbolism in the artwork you provided is multidimensional:

Emotional Impact: Despite the complexity, there’s a certain calmness to the figure’s posture, which might represent the peace that can come from deep contemplation, even amidst internal complexity.

The Thinker: Traditionally, Rodin’s “The Thinker” is a symbol of philosophy and intellectual labor. The figure’s contemplative pose suggests deep thought or meditation on profound questions.

Gordian Knot: Symbolizes a complex problem that seems unsolvable. In mythology, it was undone with a bold stroke by Alexander the Great, suggesting that some problems require unconventional thinking.

Self-Referential Knot: In this image, the thinker is not just contemplating the knot but is also part of it. This reflects the idea that humans are intrinsically intertwined with the complexities they are trying to understand—our thoughts, dilemmas, and existence itself are all part of the ‘knot’.

Color and Texture: The vibrant stripes in a variety of hues could represent the diverse aspects of the human experience—emotions, thoughts, conflicts, and resolutions. The texture gives a tactile sense of complexity, emphasizing the depth and layers of the human psyche.

Posture: Despite the complexity of the knot, the thinker’s posture remains unchanged—stoic and reflective. This could symbolize the human quest for understanding in the face of internal and external complexity.

Integration and Disintegration: The knot can also be seen as a metaphor for the integration of self—how our experiences and thoughts are woven into the fabric of our identity. Yet, the complexity suggests a potential for disintegration, posing the question of whether and how we can retain a coherent self in the face of life’s intricacies.

In essence, the artwork speaks to the recursive nature of human thought, the intertwined relationship between thinker and thought, and the profound challenge of understanding the self within the broader tapestry of existence.

My mother and I want to note that AI may have failed to recognize its own role in this interplay. It’s role is that of Alexander’s sword cutting through the Gordian knot. Large language models, and the superintelligent systems that come after them, will help us think about our problems more comprehensively. Although human thought may not be sufficient to untie itself from an intractable problem, superintelligent AI may be sharp enough to help us slice right through it.

I asked Dall-E 3 to make other versions of the image. It did not quite get it right on subsequent attempts. Here they are: