Introduction
is a film that exhibits many philosophical ideas in the modern society, in addition to special effects and actions. As such, the movie not only serves to be entertaining, but also thought-provoking considering that it has style and substance in its composition. Additionally, the movie, The Matrix, has several similarities with works by Descartes and Plato. Evidently, The Matrix, Meditation, and The Cave analogy all evaluate the theory that the world is an illusion; additionally, the three materials question the connection between reality and our senses. Although all the three stories are different, their ideas are the same; furthermore, even though The Matrix is more futuristic than the ideas by Plato and Descartes in the 17th century, their allegories are similar. The essay will look in-depth at the philosophical issues raised, which are similar to those presented in The Republic and Meditations by Plato and Descartes respectively.
Descartes' Ideas and The Matrix
In essence, The Matrix is based on Descartes’ important theses on intellectual autonomy; for this French philosopher, in order to reason normally, one must have a good mind and learn how to apply it effectively. As a result, Descartes evaluates all forms of knowledge from human beings, from a skeptical point of view. However, despite his skepticism, he was certain of his existence considering based on the act of thinking about, doubting, and the reality of his perceptions. Similarly, in the film, The Matrix, human beings spend their lives in pods, which is a rehash of Descartes’ argument. According to Descartes, most of the truths he has acquired over time have been enabled by the sense (Descartes, " Lafleur, 1960). However, he is keen to note that the senses deceive sometimes; as a result, one should not trust them completely.
Plato's Allegory of the Cave and The Matrix
From the passage, The Republic, Plato focuses on the narrow limits of the senses; it is evident that the prisoners described by Plato in the Allegory of the cave share similar aspects with people in the movie, The Matrix. Essentially, both groups of people have been fed with false images, which they accept as their senses are guiding them through this notion. Moreover, The Matrix seeks to show that human kind is only living in an illusion of life, which is similar to the perspective presented by Plato. Although the film is meant to stand on its own in efforts to create a set of philosophical questions, The Matrix pays homage to Plato’s references. The underlying question in both stories focuses on how to really determine our reality (Ferguson, 1922). According to The Matrix, and Plato’s Allegory, peoples’ blindness to the truth about existence is relative to the concept of reality. The world has created and portrayed an illusion, through which individuals search, but cannot find the truth.
Similarities in Philosophical Ideas
The clear similarities in all these works are that they doubt the reality of our world as well as question the reliability of our senses. It is evident that in The Matrix, a computer system controlled the main character; in Plato’s Allegory, the cave is controlled by mankind. In the same way, Descartes’ meditation shows how his perceptions of evil demons control him. According to Descartes, we are all dreaming; in addition, everything we experience is just an illusion. Similarly, Plato emphasizes this notion by showing the limitations of the senses, which believe what is portrayed by the world. To gain truths of the world, all the stories insist on scrutinizing the mind’s judgment so as to ensure that a concept exhibits both physical and non-physical reality (Wachowski, " Wachowski, 1999). Certainly, all these sources ask the same questions; the difference is seen in how they choose to answer these questions.
References
Descartes, R., " Lafleur, L. J. (1960). Meditations on first philosophy (pp. 41-42). Indianapolis:
Bobbs-Merrill.
Ferguson, A. S. (1922). Plato's Simile of Light (continued). Part II. The Allegory of the Cave.
The Classical Quarterly, 16(1), 15-28.
Wachowski, A., " Wachowski, L. (1999). The matrix [Motion picture]. United States: Warner
Brothers.
