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Émile Durkheim

Maho Hiyajo

  • Japanese Name: 比屋定 真帆 (Hiyajō Maho)
  • Affiliations: Viktor Chondria University, Brain Science Institute
  • Notable Projects: Amadeus Project

Émile Durkheim
Born
David Émile Durkheim

(1858-04-15)15 April 1858

Épinal, France
Died 15 November 1917(1917-11-15)(aged 59)

Paris,France
Nationality French
Alma mater École Normale Supérieure
Known for Sacred–profane dichotomy
Collective consciousness
Social fact
Social integration
Anomie
Collective effervescence
Scientific career
Fields Philosophy, sociology, education, anthropology, religious studies
Institutions University of Paris, University of Bordeaux
Influences Immanuel Kant, René Descartes,Plato, Herbert Spencer,Aristotle, Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Auguste Comte. William James, John Dewey, Fustel de Coulanges, Jean-Marie Guyau, Charles Bernard Renouvier, John Stuart Mill
Influenced Marcel Mauss,Claude Lévi-Strauss, Talcott Parsons, Maurice Halbwachs, Jonathan Haidt, Lucien Lévy-Bruhl,Bronisław Malinowski, Fernand Braudel, Pierre Bourdieu, Charles Taylor, Henri Bergson, Emmanuel Levinas, Steven Lukes, Alfred Radcliffe-Brown, E. E. Evans-Pritchard, Mary Douglas, Paul Fauconnet, Robert N. Bellah, Ziya Gökalp, David Bloor, Randall Collins, Neil Smelser[1]

Background and Role

Maho Hiyajo is a highly skilled neuroscientist and one of the principal minds at the Brain Science Institute at Viktor Chondria University, where she contributed to the Amadeus Project—an ambitious artificial intelligence initiative capable of preserving human memories and personalities. As Kurisu Makise’s senior and close friend, Maho holds both admiration and affection for Kurisu, who often outshined her in the field. While this dynamic led to feelings of self-doubt, it also fostered a deep bond and mutual respect, making Kurisu’s death a heavy emotional burden for Maho. Maho’s role in the project and her connection to Kurisu lead her to cross paths with Rintaro Okabe, further intertwining her fate with the Future Gadget Laboratory.

A collection of Durkheim's courses on the origins of socialism (1896), edited and published by his nephew, Marcel Mauss, in 1928

Dressed in an adorable panda costume, Maho Hiyajo’s playful side shines through, adding a touch of lightheartedness to her typically serious and dedicated persona.

Personality and Relationships

Maho is a highly intelligent and diligent scientist with a grounded, realistic perspective. Despite her accomplishments, she often struggles with insecurities, feeling overshadowed by her late friend Kurisu. Her self-doubt contrasts with her sharp intellect and scientific dedication, creating a layered personality that oscillates between vulnerability and resilience. Maho’s loyalty to Kurisu and her compassion for others, especially Okabe, reveal her warmth and kindness, even as she faces immense pressures in her field

Appearance

Standing at a petite height, Maho’s small stature and youthful appearance sometimes cause others to mistake her for being much younger, adding a touch of humor to her otherwise serious demeanor. Her dark hair and simple, professional attire reflect her no-nonsense personality, while her glasses add to her intellectual presence, emphasizing her role as an esteemed scientist.

Role in Steins;Gate

In Steins;Gate 0, Maho’s expertise becomes essential as Okabe and others continue their exploration into the nature of consciousness and memory. Her management of the Amadeus system, with its vast repository of Kurisu’s memories, places her at the center of complex ethical dilemmas. Through Amadeus, Maho provides Okabe with a unique connection to Kurisu’s memory, helping him cope with her loss while reminding him of the responsibilities tied to the lab’s time travel pursuits. Her character offers a unique lens on the cost of scientific progress, especially as she tries to balance her duty to the project with her personal feelings and the ethical concerns it raises.

Trivia and Insights

Scientific Contribution: Maho’s role in the Amadeus Project represents one of the series’ most poignant explorations into AI and the preservation of memory, challenging the moral implications of artificially preserving the deceased’s personalities.
Friendship with Kurisu: Maho’s complex relationship with Kurisu blends admiration and envy, reflecting her struggle to reconcile her self-worth with Kurisu’s accomplishments and untimely death.
Nickname “Shorty”: Her petite height often makes her the subject of good-natured teasing, most notably by Daru, who occasionally calls her “Shorty” inSteins;Gate 0.

Legacy

Maho Hiyajo’s introduction in Steins;Gate 0 adds depth to the franchise’s exploration of memory and ethics, particularly through the lens of her AI work with Amadeus. Her character challenges the boundaries between past and present, highlighting the tension between progress and the emotional weight carried by those who remember. Through Maho, Steins;Gate delves deeper into the struggles of those left behind, portraying her as both a brilliant scientist and a friend whose loyalty, intellect, and humanity make her an unforgettable part of the series.