Descartes & matrix
Matrix is an interesting movie because it examines very basic questions of philosophy. The existence of human being, the reality of this world we live and the questions of the reliability of human mind are examined during the movie. When examined deeply, it is found that the philosophy of Matrix has very common features with the philosophy of Descartes. The dream metaphor, the deception of people by a 'malignant demon', the reliability of certain physical truths, and split of mind and body are the most significant ones. But there are also some significant differences, since the possibility of dreaming is remained as a 'possibility' for Descartes whereas in the movie it is realized. Moreover, the existence of God is another big difference since Descartes is a strong believer but movie ignores the existence of God.In the movie Matrix, before Neo discovers the reality, Morpheus asks Neo "Have you ever had a dream, Neo, that you were so sure was real?" and he continues, "What if you were unable to wake from that dream, Neo? How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world?" In the movie, the dream, which Neo woke, was his own life. He could not sense that the world in which he is liv
Then, Descartes asks that if we cannot be aware that we are dreaming in our dreams how can we be sure that we are not dreaming every time. However, any proof about the existence of God is not mentioned in the movie Matrix, while both in the real world and in the Matrix, the power of God is ignored. While their minds are dreaming in the Matrix, their bodies are used as batteries by robotics. The most significant difference between Matrix and philosophy of Descartes is about the existence of God. The people in the Matrix believe that the materials and the events in the Matrix are just 'virtual' things, not real. Since "it would seem likewise to be contrary to his goodness to allow me occasionally deceived" (97), he could not, possibly, deceive us or allow that 'malignant demon' to deceive us. To conclude, it may be said that there are plenty of similarities between Matrix and the philosophy of Descartes, but Descartes' belief of God makes a very great difference and the main idea of Descartes, the existence of God, falls in contradiction with Matrix. And among the ideas of human's mind, the existence of God is the clearest one. The most surprising similarity between the Matrix and the philosophy of Descartes is the 'dream metaphor'. They think, or they dream, and their thinking activity can be understood as a sign of realizing their existence according to Descartes. Descartes supposes that we must doubt about the reality around us. As he states, "all, which I clearly perceive, and in which I know there is some perfection, and perhaps also an infinity of properties of which I am ignorant, are formally or eminently in God, in order that the idea I have of him may become the most true, clear, and distinct of all the ideas in my mind (97)". Doubting is solely the indicator of the existence of mind itself. Therefore, if we doubt about our mind and our existence, there would not be the event of thinking and doubting as well. But next episodes of Matrix showed that they should also doubt about their existence in the real world.
Common topics in this essay:
Morpheus Neo,
Matrix Descartes,
Agent Smith,
God Descartes,
Matrix Matrix,
Matrix Descartes',
Similarly Matrix,
Descartes Moreover,
Descartes Descartes',
existence god,
Descartes God,
real world,
philosophy descartes,
malignant demon,
'malignant demon',
movie matrix,
mind body,
matrix philosophy,
dream neo,
matrix philosophy descartes,
split mind body,
'omnipotent' all-powerful,
god 'omnipotent' all-powerful,
descartes existence god,
people connected matrix,
|
Acceptance Essays
