Introduction
The Matrix is an American sci-fi action movie directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski in 1999. According to the plot, after the war between humans and machines, humans were enslaved and placed in capsules to produce energy feeding the engines. Machines created virtual reality to calm the people who remain in the unborn state: a ‘matrix’ projected into consciousness under the guise of truth. Morpheus, the head of the resistance movement, finds and awakens Neo, who can save humanity. This paper aims to put the film in the context of epistemology and explain how the film provides answers to several philosophical questions.
Skepticism and the Nature of Reality in Film
Skepticism is an attitude towards knowledge that expresses questioning or doubts about examples of experience asserted as belief or dogma. Philosophical skepticism can take a radical form when it requires to abandon judgments on which there is no clear opinion or be more moderate, declaring that nothing can be known with certainty. In a broad sense, skepticism is an opportunity to question knowledge. In this sense, the film’s idea of an illusory reality is evidence of skepticism, as it casts doubt on the world’s very existence. The film also challenges the validity of sensations and visuals and the truth of belief in an illusory reality.
Parts of the film support the views of Descartes and Berkeley. Moreover, the film is a cinematic expression of the philosophical discussion between these two great minds. Since Berkeley’s ideas, refute the basic principles of materialistic doctrine, the matrix and its reality are a reflection of these ideas. In particular, Berkeley developed the concept that perception and sensation are real and reflect the material world’s truth (“George Berkeley”). At the same time, Descartes argued that even when the body loses its shape, there remains consciousness, which continues to think, which is evidence of the existence of I. This idea was expressed in his famous formulation, “Cogito ergo sum” (“René Descartes”). Moreover, Neo’s transition from the matrix to the real world’s reality is built on the sequence of meditations from the treatise by Descartes.
Interestingly, the script and plot develop in significant accordance with Descartes and Berkeley’s ideas, and answers to the philosophical questions that the film raises can be found in the works of these thinkers. However, there is also a third side of the dialogue – this is John Locke, who is the author of the subjectivity concept, which became the basis for the modern concept of personality. In particular, Locke believed that a person is born without innate ideas, and their consciousness is determined only by the experience obtained from sensory perception. Locke assumes such a mind has a blank slate – tabula rasa.
An explicit reference to this concept can be seen when Morpheus first connects Neo to the matrix, and they find themselves in a white space where there is nothing. Morpheus further invites Neo to affect the situation with mental effort, and also draws for him a picture of the actual reality in which Neo was born. The difference between the directors’ and philosophers’ interpretations lies in the idea that a Neo can change both the reality of matrix and captivity through his purposeful actions.
It should be noted that, according to Descartes, the mind operates with three types of ideas, and an innate idea is the idea of consciousness itself, the concept of the similarity of human consciousness to the divine, which is unchanging. Further, adventitious ideas can be caused by a real phenomenon outside the mind. The mind cannot manipulate its inner content, nor can it be explored and discarded at will. Finally, fabricated ideas are inventions of the mind, the mind can control them, they can be investigated or put aside at will, and their inner content can be changed.
Relevance of Truth
In addition to providing several options for reality concepts, the film also asks what truth is. The importance of knowing the truth is reflected in the scene where Neo chooses a red pill and learns the truth, which enables him to proceed on his path. Later, in conversations with Morpheus, he realizes that he did not immediately decide to find out the truth, and many times chose the blue pill. There is also a hint to this fact when Neo and Trinity are driving to meet Morpheus. After Neo opens the door, ready to leave, Trinity says, “Look closely, you know this road, you’ve already been here.”
Simultaneously, Oracle’s ideas about truth are much broader, as reflected in the dialogue that “the spoon does not exist” in the scene where Neo first meets Oracle. Moreover, Oracle can be considered a connecting link between the concepts of mechanical reality and the reality of imagination and sensation, since Oracle says that truth is relevant in both worlds. Oracle also hints that Neo will find answers when he understands what the idea of a spoon is – that is, an innate idea. However, according to the film, such truth can only be accessed by a select few, including Neo. However, for Cypher, an attractive illusion is preferable to a painful reality, since he betrays his friends to gain a favorable position in the matrix.
Individual Perception
If I had the opportunity to choose, I would choose the red pill. But I am not ready to say that confidence in such a choice could come to me immediately. As evidenced by the film’s plot, the truth is a heavy burden since Neo overcomes many obstacles before saving humanity. However, as a rule, the truth is very attractive in moments of choice, as it brings the answers. Besides, the person who decides to find out the truth usually weighs their ability to deal with it.
In The Matrix, I like the script, cast, direction, and battle scenes in the wire-fu style when cables are used to create an appealing motion picture. Besides, a visual effect, known as ‘bullet time,’ creates a particular pleasure when the film’s action slows down, and the main character continues to move quickly in real-time. Most of all, I identify myself with Neo’s character, since he is the only one capable of acting and changing reality on both sides of the matrix; I also like the characters of Morpheus, Tank, and Trinity. My favorite moments in the film are when Neo notices a black cat and a white rabbit tattoo, and when Neo meets Oracle. The battle scenes in altered reality are also breathtaking, as are the romantic scenes with Neo and Trinity. Simultaneously, some moments in the film cause fear and even deep disgust – for example, the introduction of a “bug” into Neo, or the panorama of cocoons with babies.
Thus, The Matrix was viewed in the context of epistemology and philosophical concepts. The film utilizes the ideas of famous thinkers – Berkeley, Descartes, and Locke. Weaving these ideas into the script was a successful decision made by directors Lana and Lilli Wachowski, who provided many viewers with the opportunity to enjoy a quality movie and ask themselves eternal questions about the nature of reality and truth.
Works Cited
“René Descartes.”Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, n.d., Web.
“George Berkeley.”Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, n.d., Web.