So, let’s do a simple thought experiment, you know, like scientists do.
Imagine a cosy theatre, holding a few hundred close up, invited to watch a ‘magician’.
He comes on. He is middle aged, smartly dressed and explains he is going to saw his beautiful assistant in half.
She comes on. She is young, beautiful, wearing a gown and happy.
So far, mostly just what you would expect for this trick.
She explains why she is wearing a gown. She has nothing on under it. This is to prove that she is not two people joined together, is not wearing any devices, has no secret trap doors, false limbs or other trickery, she is just herself. She removes the gown and members of the audience are invited to inspect her thoroughly. The magician makes sexist comments about this process.
She climbs onto the table, looking happy, and he proceeds to really saw her into two parts. There is mess, and noise, but she smiles, does not scream in pain, and dies. The magician does not restore her. That is the end.
I wonder, in this thought experiment, how the audience would react. Would they believe it? They are expecting a magic illusion, but do they know what they saw? Will they clap? Will they be confused, or refuse to believe their eyes? Would anyone in the audience jump up and stop it all?
These are interesting questions. What would you do, and why?