Neuromancer portrays a world in which there is trend towards the perfection of function. This is an ambiguous term, but I will try to make its meaning more explicit through context. While the book displays the characteristic diversity of culture, which is characteristic of cyberpunk, there are a few essential universals, which make this trend obvious. The matrix is the most prominent universal, as it is present almost all the through the story. Case nearly always has access to the matrix. Regardless of his location, his job is still the same, and he is still just as effective at it. Another universal is the specialization of human function. The most blatant example of this is the extensive mention of biological upgrades available to people, from beautification to mechanical implants and neurosurgery. However, this idea also applies to the Tessier-Ashpool system of cycling cloned generations to maintain government. All of these are divergences from normal human activity, and they reveal the perception that the normal range of human ability is not enough to be competitive in the future’s highly diversified society. Basically, it puts an emphasis on the ability to be modified, and no longer sees an individual as being confined by the nature of his or her nature physical endowments. The matrix is the apex of this freedom from physical restriction, for the reason that it is completely non-physical. This freedom from restriction allows for more effective pursuit for perfection of function. Molly can be the perfect samurai, Case can be the perfect safe-cracker, and Wintermute/Neuromancer can be the perfect intelligence. On some level, the trends in mainstream society are towards a matrix world, where all limitations can be hacked.
However, this analysis of the Neuromancer world leads to assumptions about the value of mind vs. body. If a society’s goal is to create the most competitive individuals, then the body can be seen as merely an impediment. Yet, since this cyberpunk universe is so diverse, it presents society which doesn’t embrace the pursuit of perfection. The space Zionists are a vivid contrast to the culture in Night City, The Sprawl, Istanbul, or Freeside. Case’s first impression of Zion was that it “smelled of cooked vegetables, humanity, and ganja.” (104) This initial description of Zion creates the impression that Zion lies on the opposite side of the technological spectrum, and that it is a more physical culture by nature. This impression is further strengthened by the interaction with Zionites. Case notices that “Zionites always touched you when they were talking, hands on your shoulder,” which he doesn’t like. (106) Similarly, when case shows Aerol the matrix, something Case is very intimate with, it makes Aerol very uncomfortable. Clearly, this interaction serves to show how physicality is much more important for the Zionites, and the matrix, mind without body, disturbs them. The contrast of the Zionite space colony is further emphasized by analyzing assuming that they share similar beliefs with contemporary Rastafarianism. The religion believes that the body is sacred, and if you lose a part of it, you lose a part of your soul. This creates a foundation for which we can imagine the Zionites reject the kind of physical augmentation that Molly has. However, this contrast doesn’t readily indicate whether the physical world or the mental world is more important. Rather, the existence of both can be seen as a validation of both. The fact that Zion exists in it’s own sphere of influence in the book gives the Zionite philosophy merit. Perhaps, the absolute physicality of Zion is put into the juxtaposition with its converse, wintermute/neuromancer, in order to make that point that in the diversity of the future, all types of existence have their merit.