2. A MINDLESS automaton
A zombie is a MINDLESS automaton
The Science:
The zombie is dead flesh driven by stimulus to feed; there is no high level brain activity, just basic motor function to enable it to shamble after food. Residual memories may exist in what is left of its brain which causes it to gravitate towards known locations. There may also be some very rudimentary use of tools, for example hitting a barricade with a stick but they are just as likely to bash at that barrier until their hands break off. Additionally they may back away from fire, but they won’t “think” any further than how they get from where they are to where you are.
This issue of zombies that learn is a fine line; basic instinctive reactions to repeated situations are possible, e.g. associating a location as being a source of food and returning there. This is not a high level of thinking; a goldfish will “learn” that the lifting of the tank’s lid means food is coming and so will come to the surface. It eventually also discovers that when a fishing net is put into the tank it is time to hide in the castle. However, a goldfish will not co-operate with other goldfish to lay traps. As for goldfish, it is so for zombies – there is a huge leap from repetitive training to use of guile.
The Lore:
A reanimated corpse is simply an automaton driven by the desire to consume human flesh. That is it – no power of logic. The retained memories of their former lives may result in instinctive actions like sitting in a car with their hands on the steering wheel. This is due to the “habit” of driving a car rather than thoughts of actually driving anywhere.
now, do you believ in george romero’s point of view in land of the dead? that, if a plauge lasted long enough, that the zombies would try to become more like us. that they would begin to think in order to find food. that they fould begin to have feelings.
Absolutely not. Eventually becoming more aware of its surroundings is possible, but having feelings and compassion for fellow zombies? oh, pur-lease! What’s next? a zombie union?
No offence to George but, although Land of the Dead is a great movie, Zombies with feelings is a mistake. I can understand them developing Cognitive Abilities but they are still Soulless Walkers. This idea makes a good movie and George is a master but I don’t think it will catch on.
bub thought and felt feelings. watch day again.
I believe that we all agree that zombies could, potentially, act on behaviors that are habitual and learned instinct. A zombie is, more or less, still a member of the animal kingdom so – apply Pavlov, and a zombie will salivate at the sound of a bell. However, to believe that they could be emotional insinuates that the virus is no longer in control. Either the human is in control, and the virus is like AIDS, or the virus is in control. If this is the case, viruses can evolve at a quick rate, but to assume that they would create sentience within a Zero Generation is ridiculous. Seeing as zombies can’t procreate, the idea that they “evolve” over one lifetime is ridiculous. But, maybe Romero knows something we don’t.
if the brain is in proper condition it is theoretically possible for the zombie to gain back the ability to problem solve, just like an infan
Maybe the idea is that somewhere inside the zombie’s brain, the human is still there or dormant. And that given enough time that human attribute might come out. Just an idea, although if this is true what else would come out. I think the idea of the zombies having empathy for each other is lame. I rather see them as pure animal instinct. But then again like in dawn of the dead, they came to the mall out of some kind of instinct of what they use to do, so the human host of this plague does play into it.
Well, remember that in Romero’s film Day of the Dead, Bub does react and seem to have feelings for his master, and when his master is killed, Bub goes psycho.
if we are getting into zombie paradoxes we have stretched this too far.