Neon Genesis Evangelion and the Hedgehog's Dilemma

This is a small excerpt from our chapter in the forthcoming book Neon Genesis Evangelion and Philosophy.

Among the most significant shows that Netflix has acquired, lies undoubtedly Neon Genesis Evangelion. What makes the show so interesting, is not (necessarily) its depiction of epic battles between giant aliens and robots, but rather its engagement with a number of deep psychological and philosophical issues.

At the center of the story is our main character, Shinji Ikari, a young boy who struggles with depression and anxiety. Much of his internal conflict stems from his father, who abandoned him when he was a young child.

The characters of Neon Genesis Evangelion all feel lost and alienated because of a lack of strong connections to parent figures, or peers. They have experienced pain, and losses, that make them wary of growing close to others, and they employ defensive mechanisms to try and protect themselves from further pain.

This is an example of the Hedgehog’s Dilemma, coming from the writings of Arthur Schopenhauer, and forming the title of the fourth episode of the series. Schopenhauer tells the parable of porcupines, coming together for warmth but driven apart again by the pain of each other’s spines, mirroring the human condition of interpersonal distance driven by the desire to avoid harm. Though we crave connection, we are unable to ever fully satisfy these desires:

A number of porcupines huddled together for warmth on a cold day in winter; but, as they began to prick one another with their quills, they were obliged to disperse. However the cold drove them together again, when just the same thing happened. At last, after many turns of huddling and dispersing, they discovered that they would be best off by remaining at a little distance from one another. In the same way the need of society drives the human porcupines together, only to be mutually repelled by the many prickly and disagreeable qualities of their nature. The moderate distance which they at last discover to be the only tolerable condition of intercourse, is the code of politeness and fine manners; and those who transgress it are roughly told—in the English phrase—to keep their distance. By this arrangement the mutual need of warmth is only very moderately satisfied; but then people do not get pricked. A man who has some heat in himself prefers to remain outside, where he will neither prick other people nor get pricked himself.—Arthur Schopenhauer (2014, p. 99)

This idea is introduced directly in the series. In Episode 3, Ritsuko tells Misato about the idea, in an attempt to help her understand Shinji, explaining that he may be scared of taking risks with others because he could be hurt again.

Ritsuko: Shinji might be the kind of person who can't make friends easily. Have you ever heard of the Hedgehog's Dilemma?

Misato: Hedgehog? Those spiky animals?

Ritsuko: Hedgehogs have a hard time sharing warmth with other hedgehogs. The closer they get, the more they hurt each other with their quills. People are also like that. I think some part of Shinji is afraid to take that risk because he's afraid of being hurt.

Misato: He'll figure it out eventually. Part of growing up is trying again and again using trial and error to work out the right distance to avoid hurting each other.

This dialogue is poignantly delivered over scenes of Shinji walking and sitting quietly alone amongst his chattering classmates. Because of Shinji's past hurts, he now feels unable to get close to others, scared of being hurt again, and simultaneously hurting others in return. Episode 4 tackles this parable head-on. After fighting with Misato, Shinji runs away. Misato realizes that both she and Shinji are scared and lashing out at one another, leading to further hurt and withdrawal.

Ritsuko: He's gone, I guess. Is this for the best?

Misato: The Hedgehog's Dilemma, huh? The closer they get, the more they hurt each other. I get it now. He talks like that because he doesn't know how else to express his feelings.

The visuals of this scene, Shinji's speaking face fading into Misato's, further emphasizes the similarity between them. This leads her to race to the train station to try and stop him from leaving, only to find that, remembering her words, he has decided to stay. They have both made an effort to overcome their tendency to hurt or withdraw, in order to benefit from the warmth that comes from connection.

Shinji: I ... I'm home.

Misato: Welcome back.

The Hedgehog's Dilemma fascinated Freud, who drew on Schopenhauer's original parable. Why is it that we show anxiety and depression, even when our loved ones are close? Human intimacy involves the danger of being hurt, of being left alone, and thus experiencing loneliness and pain. Every dating couple is faced with this dilemma — move closer and experience the warmth and comfort of love or remain more distant and thus make one less vulnerable to being left alone. Indeed, the dilemma has been taken up in contemporary psychological research (Maner et al. 2007).

Co-written with Heather Browning.

Copyright © by Walter Veit 2020. Permission to republish this post (online and in print) is granted if the authors are credited (ideally in the byline). For details and further questions, reach out to the author.