To The Boy Who Sought Freedom: The Philosophy of Freedom & Social Contract Theory in Attack on Titan

Abstract

This honors thesis started from a year-and-a-half-long research about the connections between philosophy and anime, with a focus on the anime Shingeki no Kyojin, or translated as Attack on Titan. My project was born from an honors tutorial with my faculty mentor, Dr. Duane Armitage, where we discussed various philosophical concepts depicted in the anime - such as, the cycle of war, freedom, social contract theory, and moral and ethical responsibility. In the end, I decided to explore two philosophical ideas - freedom and social contract theory - and analyze how the anime interprets various Western philosophers' ideas - Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, and Nietzsche - pertaining to those ideas. Thus, the anime is not just a simple tale about humanity's survival, but a philosophical narrative drawing on Western thinkers to understand human nature, its desire for freedom, and the success of freedom within a social contract. Finally, I will be addressing my research questions: Is freedom possible without infringing on others' freedom, or does freedom inherently require sacrifice - are we free, or are we bound to the idea of freedom? Can true freedom be achieved within a social contract, or must it always be at the expense of struggle and sacrifice? The first chapter of my thesis will review the anime Shingeki No Kyojin or Attack on Titan. I will include a summary covering all four seasons of the anime because the context is necessary for readers to follow the connections I will make. The second chapter of my thesis will answer the question of freedom. I will begin with a general definition of freedom and contrast that with how Attack on Titan defines freedom. Then, I will identify three symbols representing freedom in the anime and show how three Western philosophers' thoughts are symbolized in terms of those. By doing so, I will show how the anime interprets these philosophers' thoughts to answer the question about freedom. Chapter three will focus on explaining social contract theory. This chapter will have the same ingredients as chapter two, as I will define social contract theory and then what the anime suggests about the idea of social contract theory. Then, I will highlight the symbols of social contract theory in the anime and then show where three Western philosophical ideas are presented through those symbols and find one of the social contract theory symbols in the anime. The point will be to show how the anime engages with the ideas of these philosophers to respond to the question of social contract theory. The fourth chapter will revisit and answer my research questions in the context of Attack on Titan: First, is freedom possible without infringing on others' freedom, or does freedom inherently demand sacrifice - are we truly free or merely bound to the idea of freedom? Second, can true freedom ever be achieved within a social contract, or must it always come at the cost of struggle and sacrifice? Overall, my project aims to showcase that Attack on Titan is not merely entertainment but a profound philosophical story that forces the audience to grapple with the nature of freedom and the "double-sword" - necessity versus danger - of social contracts