The Matrix
The Matrix is a science fiction movie about artificial intelligence computers replacing mankind. I believe that this movie is a common type of display from the media is common paranoia so that they can get a reaction from people and sell their story. In the case of The Matrix, the movie dazzles people with awesome special effects using modern computer technology, which I find ironic. I find it self-conflicting and hypocritical for the media to use modern computer technology for their own good to show people how bad technology is. Amy Bruckman and Howard Rheingold would probably find this movie interesting in that it disagrees and agrees with certain aspects about their beliefs about the use of computers.
The Matrix specifically shows how advanced technology such as artificial intelligence (A.I.) may one day get out of the control of the people and become a dangerous enemy to mankind. It turns out that in the movie people believe that they are living normal lives in the 90's as common businessmen and families as we do today, when in reality the time is later in the 21st century and people are hooked up to machines in pods where they are merely interpreting electrical signals which tells them that the they are alive in the 90's. They call this set up The Matrix. The artificial intelligence machines put these people in these pods for their whole lives where they never use a muscle in their body; they only think that they are moving and living normal lives.The reason why the artificial intelligence machines put people into pods is because the sky is scorched and there is no source of electricity, so the A.I. units found an alternate source of energy: humans.
The star of the Movie, Neo, is enlightened by one of ...
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...ul people can benefit people.
Personally, I don't believe that true artificial intelligence can ever be reached. I believe that a computer can be so advanced that it may appear to be thinking on it's own, but only because a man programmed it to think in such away. I don't think that a computer can teach itself common sense and the true ability to reason between right and wrong like humans can. And since I believe this, I see no problem in expanding technology and making online communities as Rheingold and Bruckman would.
Works Cited
The Matrix. Larry Wachowski, DVD, Warner Brothers, 1999 Bruskman, Amy. "Finding One's Own in Cyberspace" Composing Cyberspace Edited by Rich Holeton, San Fransisco: McGraw Hill, 1998, 171-180 Rheingold, Howard.
"The Heart of the Well" " Composing Cyberspace Edited by Rich Holeton, San Fransisco: McGraw Hill, 1998, 151-163
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)
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 book, What’s So Super About the Supernatural tells of well known stories about poltergeists. A poltergeist is a noisy or high energy ghost who might perform violent activity. A young girl by the name of Tina Resch lived in Ohio and is known to be a poltergeist. “No ghost was ever seen or heard on camera; however when the camera was inadvertently left running, the tape showed Tina surreptitiously pulling over a lamp” (Gardner). The evidence was found after people were reporting the activity. Newspaper reporters went to the scene to check out the action only to find evidence of Tina throwing objects violently around the house. Another example of proof that ghosts exist goes back to a case involving a poltergeist in England. An eleven-year-old boy by the name of Matthew Manning performed several violent actions that his dad had noticed and reported. Gardner writes, “ On one occasion, Matthew’s bed was thrown about and left leaning at an angle against the wall” (Gardner). These examples are not the only reported cases regarding ghosts and paranormal activity. Many stories about the supernatural have been told and passed down for several generations. Spirits are even mentioned in well known religious books that have been passed down for hundreds of
Deep within the cave the prisoners are chained by their necks and have a limited view of reality. Around them, by the distant light of the fire, they only see shadows and outlines of people or objects. From their conclusions of what they may think is real, are false. “The Matrix” parallels Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” in a number of ways. Similar to the prisoners of the cave the humans trapped in the modern day puppet-handlers (the machines) want them to see. In the movie, Neo is a computer hacker, and on day he suddenly realizes that his world is fake, by finding out the truth after he was released from the pod. Neo discovers that what he has been presented with his entire life is only reflections or merely shadows of the truth. The theme is recognized throughout the movie as we see many objects, as well as Neo, reflected in other objects. The puppet-handlers (the machines) represent what Plato calls the influential and powerful members of society. The objects making the shadows in “The Allegory of the Cave” are also creating a false conclusion for the prisoners. In “The Matrix” the puppet-handle...
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.
Paranormal activity is simply the activity dealing with spirits and the strange phenomena that cannot be explained by what the scientist know about nature and the world (Merriam-Webster, 2014). There are several different types of paranormal entities such as Poltergeist, spirits, hauntings, and etc. Hauntings appear in most places and they appeal to every sense except taste. Hauntings can be from anything dealing with the life form that was once alive (MPI, 2009-2014). Poltergeists are “noisy ghosts” but really distinguishes them is they are attracted to one person, epicenter. Epicenter is usually a person, usually a female, which is going through puberty and sometimes emotionally stressed (MPI, 2009-2014).
There are many theories as to how someone or something becomes a ghost. This is called Paranormal which means beyond normal and scientific name is parapsychology, which means study of interactions between living organisms and their external environment that seem to transcend the known physical laws of nature (Britannica, 147). In 1920, Dr. William McDougall was the first scientific psychical who research about Paranormal Activity (Stefanik, 2000). According to Stefanik, Paranormal experiences often seem weird, uncanny, or unnatural. Typically they are quite rare but there are a few exceptional "stars" such as who have regular paranormal experiences and may show seemingly consistent paranormal ability (Daniel, 2004). Different types of scientists who researched about paranormal activity was spiritualists. The scientists accepted paranormal to be real. There are believers and nonbelievers about the paranormal phenomenon. Discussion about parapsychological phenomena has assumed emotional overtones, unsuitable to scientific discipline, and outspoken but contradictory opinions are still voiced (Cauz, 2010, p.147)
...exemplifies the belief of society that witches can only be allied with the sin and malevolence. In addition, the Jersey Devil is used as a scapegoat; it is to blame when farm animals are missing or crops are destroyed.
between living organisms and their external environment that seem that seemed to transcend the known physical laws of nature (The Rhine, 2013). According to (Nichols, 2011) parapsychology was studied over 100 years and in that time amassed thousands of cases studies and formal experiments in order to better understand these non-ordinary realms. In the study of paranormal activity, they have been studying them in lavatories. When studying parapsychology, people try to get an understanding and hope to get their questions answered about the phenomena aspects of these subjects. Scientist who study paranormal activities are trying to discover why these events occur. Parapsychology came about in the 1930s. When in a paranormal situation it is weird and scary and sometimes unbelievable.
When people think of paranormal activity, they usually think of ghosts, and the movies, “Paranormal Activity 1-4.” Paranormal activity has a lot to do with events that cannot be justified by scientists and researchers and also cannot be proved. Paranormal activity also has a lot to do with dark activity, and mythical activities. Spiritual beings, ghosts, and cryptids are three common sightings when referring to paranormal activity. Many people and families across the globe have told others their stories where they have been involved in some type of paranormal activity. While there are many people who believe in paranormal activity, there are many who believe they are just myths and lies. People have their own way of believing things, and in some cases people will not believe in paranormal activity until it happens to them. There has been no study of the first reported paranormal activity.
Paranormal sightings should be taken into consideration because there could be other things among us, besides humans in this world. Also if ghosts think you are harming them, they could actually appear right under you. Furthermore ghosts can appear in different shapes and sizes. For instance ufos should also be taken seriously because they appear in the sky. Ghosts also like to play tricks on the human mind. When a person dies there spirit can get stuck in the middle of the universe. Ghosts don't haunt all cemeteries, but they still rest in peace. In studies around the world people have actually seen, and heard ghosts in there house or at cemetery's. Finally ghosts are interesting to study because it facinates the human mind.
One may think that paranormal research has undergone many advancements however, ghost hunting today has not improved since it first began. The development of new equipment has not changed the results of investigations because ultimately, ghost hunting is not about the evidence (Radford). Ghost hunting, today, has become more about getting the opportunity to go to an old, torn down, kryptic building rather than capturing things like electromagnetic field fluctuations, or EMF’s. Common claims state that ghosts are spirits of those who have been wronged or whose lives tragically ended in murder. If this were the case, then why should one not expect to encounter ghosts everywhere? (Radford). Why haven’t ghosts tried to help bring their killers to justice with so many unsolved crimes? Why should ghosts be bound to their place of death rather than being able to roam freely? (Radford). These are two issues that contribute to the skeptical side of paranormal investigating. Another issue with investigating is the technology. “The equipment is only as scientific as the person using it; you may...
Ever heard a bump in the night, or a whisper calling your name when you’re all alone? “The human mind makes up forces and tricks you into certain things” some say… But others think it’s something more , such as the paranormal? There are tons of different dimensions, who knows what’s out there that humans do not know about.
The resources used currently to supply power to the people of the earth are highly restricted and have constant problems. There are many alternatives available for supplying energy, that are renewable and more nature conscious. One alternative to an energy resource is the use of the energy from the ocean waves, and converting it into usable energy. Ocean waves are one of the world’s most abundant sources of renewable energy. The power available from the ocean waves averages around two-three million watts. In more favorable conditions, the area can have an energy production can average 65 megawatts of power per device installed. Along with its power being easily extracted, it does not produce harmful emissions or by-products making it less polluting. If we use the ocean’s energy then we can effectively produce a cheap and renewable energy source (Ocean Wave Energy Company, 2006)
Our world has seen several inventions that have greatly impacted our way of life. Of those inventions renewable energy sources is what we believe has the biggest impact to our daily routines. Hydroelectric energy is one of the biggest energy producing plants used today. Its efficiency is 70- 95% making it one of the biggest suppliers in the world and of high interest to energy companies. Based on new statistics, an unprecedented boom in global hydropower dam construction is underway, primarily in developing countries and emerging economies (Water World, 2014). Hydroelectric plants are operated by trapping a water source by building a dam and having it readily available to the plant. To produce energy the dam opens small doors at the bottom