<p>This was a comment first, but converted to an answer.</p>

<p>The hole idea is called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Simulacra</a> and was investigated by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baudrillard#Simulacra_and_Simulation" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Jean Baudrillard</a>. The original inspiration was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Laughing_Man_(Salinger)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Salingers short story "The laughing Man"</a>.</p>

<p>The concept is now also known as "Stand Alone Complex", but it's not frequently used, except (for example) for the group <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Anonymous</a>.</p>

<p>Also, <a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/q/3323/122">this question</a> may have some additional information.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-04T06:22:46.863Z
2013-10-04T06:22:46.863Z
2017-04-13T12:54:48.523Z
looper
<p>In GITS SAC 2nd GiG, what was the original inspiration for the concept of "many copies, no original"?</p>

<p>Does the concept have a name in real life? Or was it just a concept the writers created just for the show?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T18:55:09.797Z
It's too complicated for me to write about it in English, but it's based on [Salingers short story "The Laughing Man"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Laughing_Man_(Salinger)) and the idea is called [Simulacra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra) which was investigated by [Jean Baudrillard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baudrillard#Simulacra_and_Simulation). Whoever wants to write an answer, can look it up. Maybe [this question](http://anime.stackexchange.com/q/3323/122) helps you, too.
looper
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T18:56:48.117Z
Note: The term "Stand Alone Complex" is also used, but not very often. I've only seen it to describe Anonymous yet.
looper
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-03T21:12:21.450Z
@looper: That answers my question. I thought it dealt with economics and how various people can solve the same problem without knowledge of one another. I was extremely off. If you want, you can just copy/paste your comments as an answer... so I can give you credit for answering the question.
dgo.a
<ghost-in-the-shell-sac>
What was the inspiration for "Many copies, no original"?
# What was the inspiration for "Many copies, no original"?
Posted by: username_0 on 2013-10-03
In GITS SAC 2nd GiG, what was the original inspiration for the concept of "many copies, no original"?

Does the concept have a name in real life? Or was it just a concept the writers created just for the show?
**Tags:** ghost-in-the-shell-sac
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It's too complicated for me to write about it in English, but it's based on [Salingers short story "The Laughing Man"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Laughing_Man_(Salinger)) and the idea is called [Simulacra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra) which was investigated by [Jean Baudrillard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baudrillard#Simulacra_and_Simulation). Whoever wants to write an answer, can look it up. Maybe [this question](http://anime.stackexchange.com/q/3323/122) helps you, too.  
> **username_1**: Note: The term "Stand Alone Complex" is also used, but not very often. I've only seen it to describe Anonymous yet.  
> **username_0**: @looper: That answers my question. I thought it dealt with economics and how various people can solve the same problem without knowledge of one another. I was extremely off. If you want, you can just copy/paste your comments as an answer... so I can give you credit for answering the question.  
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## 1 answers
### Answer by username_1 on 2013-10-04. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
This was a comment first, but converted to an answer.

The hole idea is called [Simulacra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra) and was investigated by [Jean Baudrillard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baudrillard#Simulacra_and_Simulation). The original inspiration was [Salingers short story "The laughing Man"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Laughing_Man_(Salinger)).

The concept is now also known as "Stand Alone Complex", but it's not frequently used, except (for example) for the group [Anonymous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group)).

Also, [this question](https://anime.stackexchange.com/q/3323/122) may have some additional information.
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