“Plato’s Two Halves in the Plug Suit: Evangelion’s Search for Wholeness”
Is it the Human Condition to just be lonely?
Kintsugi to Ikigai: Issue #3
Just get in the robot, Shinji!!
Hey there, and welcome back to Kintsugi to Ikigai—where anime’s boldest stories meet deep philosophical reflections. I’m Patrick, and this week, we’re plunging into the existential sea of Neon Genesis Evangelion. If you’ve ever felt alone in a crowded room or questioned the line between solitude and connection, this issue is for you. Let’s explore how Shinji, Asuka, Rei, and the whole EVA crew wrestle with the lonely corners of the human condition.
Featured Topic: Evangelion & the Universal Search for Connection
“God created them male and female,” Plato imagined, “but once upon a time, they were united.” According to his myth, our relentless pursuit of connection stems from being split in half—a cosmic loneliness we never entirely escape. Neon Genesis Evangelion amplifies this idea in a sci-fi setting brimming with Angels, bio-mechs, and adolescent pilots. Each pilot craves acceptance yet can’t quite bridge the gap between self and others. Shinji in particular is paralyzed by the fear that genuine connection will lead to rejection.
In Japanese philosophy, mu (無) represents emptiness. We see it when Shinji locks himself away—fearing that reaching out might be more painful than isolation. But Evangelion also resonates with Nietzsche’s call for us to find personal meaning in solitude. The show flirts with both extremes: we ache for closeness yet guard ourselves from potential hurt. As Schopenhauer lamented, we’re “like porcupines,” longing for warmth but pricking each other if we get too close. Also known as “The Hedgehog’s Dilemma” and it’s discussed using that terminology and thought experiment in the show’s dialogue.
Characters & Philosophical Influences
Shinji Ikari
Core Conflict: Self-loathing vs. desperate need for validation
Philosophy Tie-In: Echoes Nietzsche’s struggle for self-affirmation. Shinji’s growth (or regression) hinges on whether he can face the horror of loneliness and find the will to connect anyway.
Asuka Langley Soryu
Core Conflict: Overcompensation vs. deep insecurity
Philosophy Tie-In: Schopenhauer’s notion that relationships can both soothe and sting. Asuka’s bravado masks her terror of being unloved.
Rei Ayanami
Core Conflict: Identity vs. detachment
Philosophy Tie-In: The concept of mu—Rei often seems empty, yet inside her lies the seed of a profound emotional core, yearning for a sense of belonging.
Gendo Ikari
Core Conflict: Fear of intimacy vs. manipulative control
Philosophy Tie-In: Could be read through Plato’s lens—like he’s searching for his “other half” but chooses control over vulnerability. He was figuratively trying to bring back his “other half”, Shinji’s mother.
Evangelion’s world is a pressure cooker of personal traumas, reflecting Viktor Frankl’s observation in Man’s Search for Meaning: even in the worst conditions, humans seek purpose and kinship. Sometimes, that ache to connect leads to heartbreak (or in NGE’s case, apocalyptic meltdown). But ultimately, it underscores our shared need to be seen and understood.
4. AMV and NotebookLM Podcast
Anime: The Neon Genesis Evangelion Movies (Rebuild of Evangelion)
Song: Utada Hikaru - Beautiful World (2024 Version)
NotebookLM Podcast Link
https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/bb9c908d-2e46-4d07-8cfb-007571f4965a/audio
5. Five Quick Tips for Embracing Loneliness & Seeking Connection
Acknowledge the Void
Just like Shinji, naming your loneliness is a powerful first step. Journaling a single sentence about how you feel can help clarify your emotional landscape.
Channel “Will to Power” in Small Steps
Nietzsche’s concept doesn’t have to be grandiose. Practice tiny acts of self-assertion—like expressing an opinion instead of staying silent—building courage to reach out.
Practice Compassion for Yourself and Others
Schopenhauer’s “porcupine dilemma” reminds us everyone’s navigating their own pains. Offer kindness rather than judgment, even when people seem prickly.
Mindful Solitude
Embrace mu by setting aside five minutes daily for quiet reflection. Solitude can be a space to regroup, rather than an inescapable prison.
Seek Shared Meaning
In Frankl’s view, meaning can emerge from collective goals or supportive communities. Join a group chat, Discord server, or local meet-up that resonates with your interests, so you’re not alone in your struggles.
AT FIELD PERMEATION:
In Neon Genesis Evangelion, the plug suits, the mechs, and the cosmic battles serve as metaphors for our internal wars with isolation. Plato’s myth of the split soul, Nietzsche’s call for self-creation, Schopenhauer’s warnings about closeness (and the sadness of hedgehogs) and Frankl’s enduring hope—they all echo through Evangelion’s story. By understanding these philosophical threads, we see that loneliness isn’t just an absence of others; it can become a mirror that reflects our deepest fears and desires.
Remember, sometimes acknowledging that we’re fundamentally alone—each in our own existence—can free us to forge genuine connections. After all, it’s often in reaching out across that lonely gap that we find our own “other half,” or at least a friend to stand beside us when angels attack.
Until next time, keep your Plug Suit clean, and don’t discharge your sidearms. and let’s keep finding ways to mend our cracks into shining lines of gold. See you in the next issue of Kintsugi to Ikigai!