Mariano Hurtado de Mendoza
April 22, 2014
Philosophy
Alexandra Mealla
The Matrix: Aspect on Reality and Truth
The reality and truth are similar concepts used by philosophers in epistemology and metaphysics. These branches of philosophy follow the concepts of reality, which demonstrates how things really are without the perspective of someone, and truth, which demonstrates of something that is real. Metaphysics basically is the branch of philosophy that explains in a deeper perspective the concept of reality, while epistemology explains more the concept of truth and explains on how we can use knowledge to know what is true and what is not. To summarize more simply, the concept of reality basically takes the real view of reality and not perspective, while truth is the opposite of reality taking the concept into more perspective and less on how something really is. The Matrix, a movie from Lana and Andy Wachowski, portrays the ideas of reality and truth based on how the matrix is a simulated reality for people, but the people in the matrix see that the true side of this simulation, is their perspective of the real world and what the truth of the real world is.
The Matrix is a movie showing the main concepts of reality and truth and a basic aspect is Plato’s theory on reality which states that reality changes depending on something. In this movie this theory is implied to how Neo’s reality changes based on how he escaped from the matrix and noticed that the reality and perspective changed from a normal society to an apocalyptical world. This is a mixed aspect of truth and reality due to how the reality changes, based on Plato’s Theory, but also his perspective also changes on how he doubts if anything is actually true and real. Thi...
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...s to choose between saving the world or saving Trinity. Due to how the reality is different he know what to choose and what is right and what is wrong. He knows that reality changes when he travels outside the matrix, and on how a simple computer program can’t change the whole world they live in. This is why the Matrix has flaws, complicating the simulated life of the people.
The Matrix shows the doubts on how reality and truth is or isn’t. How people actually perceive reality, truth, is really different on how other people do. The reality of something can change over time. On how choices affect the timeline of events and the future of yourself and other people. This movie makes philosophy be more understandable and have modern concept, showing how to doubt our reality, how different is the perspective and truth of people, and on how the choices affect our reality.
The Matrix series is much more than an action-packed sci-fi thriller. After one view of this film for the second and third time, we start to notice a great deal of symbolism. This symbolism starts to paint a completely different picture than the images of humans battling machines. It is a religious story, with symbols deeply set in the Christian faith. The Matrix contains religious symbolism through its four main characters, Morpheus, Neo, Trinity and Cypher. In that each character personifies the “Father,” the “Son,” “Satan,” and the “Holy Spirit” of the Christian beliefs only shown through the amazing performances of the actors. A critic by the name of Shawn Levy said "The Matrix slams you back in your chair, pops open your eyes and leaves your jaw hanging slack in amazement."(metacritic.com)
In chapter ten of the book “Problems from Philosophy”, by James Rachels, the author, the author discusses the possibilities of human beings living in an actually reality, or if we are just living in an illusion. Rachels guides us through concepts that try to determine wiether we are living in a world were our perception of reality is being challenged, or questioned. Rachels guides us through the topic of “Our Knowledge of the World around Us”, through the Vats and Demons, idealism, Descartes Theological Response, and direct vs. indirect realism.
This student of Philosophy now sees the movie The Matrix in a whole new way after gaining an understanding of some of the underlying philosophical concepts that the writers of the movie used to develop an intriguing and well thought out plot. Some of the philosophical concepts were clear, while others were only hinted at and most likely overlooked by those unfamiliar with those concepts, as was this student when the movie first came out in theaters all those many years ago. In this part of the essay we will take a look at the obvious and not so obvious concepts of: what exactly is the Matrix and how does it related to both Descartes and Plato, can we trust our own senses once we understand what the Matrix is, and how Neo taking the Red Pill is symbolic of the beginning of the journey out of Pl...
...The Matrix” and Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” almost gives the idea that the movies writers may have had a lot of influence from Plato’s allegory. The creation of this movie gives and futuristic prospective of “The Allegory of the Cave” letting the people who have seen the movie think about reality and the truth. In conclusion, Plato’s story of the cave brings up many philosophical points and most significantly, addresses the topic of society’s role in our lives. On some level, we are all influenced by the thoughts and actions of everyone else, but at the same time, we as humans have the ability to question, make our own conclusions, and finally make our own choices.
as being reality and very often there is a person making another believe in the
the reality attesting to the nature or existence of an object or entity) and objective reality
The Matrix is considered by many people to be a cyberpunk triumph. Declan McCullagh from wired.com writes: "When Neo/Reeves wakes up from his VR slumber and unplugs from The Matrix, he joins a ragtag band of rebels led by the charismatic Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne). Their plan: To overthrow the artificial intelligences that have robbed humanity of reality" (McCullagh). Entertainment weekly also sees The Matrix as a movie about rebellion against oppression: "Neo is, of course, The One, the prophesied leader of the oppressed who will lead the people of Zion (an underground city populated by the last free humans) from bondage--but only if he can believe in himself and trust in the power of love" (Bernadin).
Let me briefly explain a simplified plot of The Matrix. The story centers around a computer-generated world that has been created to hide the truth from humans. In this world people are kept in slavery without their knowledge. This world is designed to simulate the peak of human civilization which had been destroyed by nuclear war. The majority of the world's population is oblivious to the fact that their world is digital rather than real, and they continue living out their daily lives without questioning their reality. The main character, Neo, is a matrix-bound human who knows that something is not right with the world he lives in, and is eager to learn the truth. He is offered the truth from a character named Morpheus, who proclaims that Neo is “the One” (chosen one) who will eventually destroy the Matrix, thereby setting the humans “free.” For this to happen, Neo must first overcome the Sentient Program agents who can jump into anyone's digital body. They are the Gate Keepers and hold the keys to The Matrix.
The Matrix, directed by the Wachowski sisters, is a film that discusses free will, artificial intelligence and poses a question: ‘How do we know that our world is real?’ This question is covered in the philosophical branch of epistemology. Epistemology is a component of philosophy that is concerned with the theory of knowledge. The exploration of reality is referenced in the film when Neo discovers he has been living in an artificial world called ‘The Matrix’. He is shocked to learn that the world in which he grew up is a computer program that simulates reality. The questioning of knowledge and its irreversibility provoked by The Matrix invites the audience to wonder whether their own world is an imitation of true reality, thus making it a
The movie is about an individual name Neo who is in the search for a thing called the Matrix. As the movie develops, he is introduced to Morpheus. Morpheus comes in and asks Neo if he wants to know the actual truth. Morpheus was clear to Neo that what he would learn would change everything that he thought he knew. So, of course Neo was enticed by this. His curiosity drove him to know the entire truth. What Neo finds out is this Matrix that he has been searching for is what he precedes to be his reality. Not only that, but it is everyone’s reality. The Matrix is a reality within an individual’s mind. This reality was created by robots that took over the world. These robots trapped the human race and are using them for a never-ending energy
Stimulating deep philosophical thought, The Matrix depicts a world in which all human brains are programmed to believe a fabricated reality. Some humans, like the protagonist of the film, Neo, were recused from this mirage and shown the truth about their perceived reality. Some found great discomfort and refused to live with the truth and they returned to live in the illusion. Others however, chose truth over comfort and happiness. After watching this film I soon began to question many aspects of my own life. Is it possible that the world I deem real is a fabricated dream? What if everything around me was designed and that my actuality is simply a perception? These looped questions consume my though and lead me to realize that my reality to
The character Cypher prefers to be kept in the matrix, because to him, the ignorance he has of samsara is better than enlightenment. He would rather enjoy his desires knowing fully well that they are not real. There is also a scene in the movie where neo is eating his first meal out of the matrix, where the food looks like snot and he’s wearing rags for clothes. These play on the ideas Buddha taught know as the Middle Way, which is to not allow indulgence to distract them from their work. In the movie, Morpheus asks neo “how do you define real? If you’re talking about your senses that you feel, taste, smell or see, then all you’re talking about are electrical signals interpreted by your brain. A major similarity between Buddhism and the Matrix is that they both emphasize that humans are not aware of the true reality before them. That human’s are blind to the real nature of this world and they must find a way to enlighten themselves. The movie emphasizes the Buddhist ideal that we must let go of our self; we have to stop giving in to our desires and to not trust our perceptions simply through our
... makes three defining choices that distinguish The Matrix completely. After Neo makes the choice to leave the Matrix, the choice to save Morpheus and the choice to believe that he is the One, The Matrix is resolved with a successful protagonist ready to make a change in his reality, which differs from the prisoners who is forced to return back into the cave. Both texts are given meaning with Russell's definition of philosophy: "philosophy, if it cannot answer so many questions which increase the interest of the world, and show the strangeness and wonder lying just below the surface even in the commonest things of daily life" (Russell, 4). Both stories challenge the perception of reality through the portrayal of a protagonist, and while The Matrix has a happier ending than Plato's Allegory of the Cave, both successfully force their audiences think like a philosopher.
Reality is created by the beliefs of the people around us. Something becomes real, the moment it is accepted as such by all of the people around us, and most importantly, ourselves. In the text it says, “Anything could be true… If he thinks he floats off the floor and if I simultaneously think I see him do it, then the thing happens.” (Orwell 278) Here we see Winston's realization that anything could be true, all that would be necessary would be a unanimous agreement that it is something real. In the end we live in a reality that we have created with the people surrounding us, and the
Since our senses are unable to confirm what is real and what is .not outside our mind then we have no way of knowing what is real or what is our reality. How do we know if we are dreaming or if this is reality? We don’t, from the book Meditations on First Philosophy he poses the idea that our senses deceive us the do not have the ability to decide if what we perceive is real and more importantly is the reality we sense our own? However, Zynda counterpoints Descartes rationalism with George Berkeley’s idealism. Idealism is the idea that there is nothing beyond our physical senses. Berkeley believes that your reality is your own and because it is the only one you are able to sense, it is the only reality. That what we perceive from our physical senses is reality, this counterpoints the The Matrix because The Matrix is suppose to make us question our version of reality. Descartes poses the possibility of an “evil genius” that sub-councioussly plants our sensory experiences. The Matrix uses the idea of “evil robots” as their “evil genius” planting the lucid dreams sensory details within the brains of the humans in the dystopian world. But what is the difference