This document provides an analysis of Rene Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy and how it relates to the Matrix trilogy. It discusses key aspects of Descartes' work such as his method of doubt and mind-body dualism. It explores psychological similarities between Descartes questioning the nature of reality and the central premise of the Matrix films. The document also analyzes how post-modern society relates to themes in the Matrix trilogy, such as questioning the nature of knowledge and perception of reality.
Did consciousness emerge from the cosmos or visa-versa?
Science: Human consciousness emerged from a cosmic big bang.
Religion: The cosmos emerged from Divine consciousness
How can we reconcile these complementary worldviews?
Knowledge vs Belief, Justification and TruthâWhat Scientific Knowledge Is a...William Hall
Â
For better or worse, science works. It has given humans dominion over the earth
It is now within humanityâs capacity to either destroy the ecosystems we depend on for our survival or make the world a better place to live.
What is it about the epistemological foundations of science that makes it so much more effective helping us to understand the world than are philosophical systems based on faith and belief?
This talk introduces the epistemological work of Sir Karl Popper, focused on his later work on evolutionary epistemology. I argue that Popper's evolutionary approach to epistemology explains how science works, and why this is a better system for building reliable knowledge about the world than are systems ultimately based in justification and belief as guides to "truth".
Caveats: I am not a student of philosophy and am not familiar with much of its literature. From my background as an evolutionary biologist, I have extended Popperâs ideas in a number of areas as I have explored the biological roles and nature of knowledge in living systems.
The presentation (if downloaded) includes links to my publications expanding on ideas presented here.
Physics and the Indian Spiritual TraditionGiulio Prisco
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Slides of my talk titled âPhysics and the Indian Spiritual Traditionâ given at the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, India, on February 10, 2018.
Did consciousness emerge from the cosmos or visa-versa?
Science: Human consciousness emerged from a cosmic big bang.
Religion: The cosmos emerged from Divine consciousness
How can we reconcile these complementary worldviews?
Knowledge vs Belief, Justification and TruthâWhat Scientific Knowledge Is a...William Hall
Â
For better or worse, science works. It has given humans dominion over the earth
It is now within humanityâs capacity to either destroy the ecosystems we depend on for our survival or make the world a better place to live.
What is it about the epistemological foundations of science that makes it so much more effective helping us to understand the world than are philosophical systems based on faith and belief?
This talk introduces the epistemological work of Sir Karl Popper, focused on his later work on evolutionary epistemology. I argue that Popper's evolutionary approach to epistemology explains how science works, and why this is a better system for building reliable knowledge about the world than are systems ultimately based in justification and belief as guides to "truth".
Caveats: I am not a student of philosophy and am not familiar with much of its literature. From my background as an evolutionary biologist, I have extended Popperâs ideas in a number of areas as I have explored the biological roles and nature of knowledge in living systems.
The presentation (if downloaded) includes links to my publications expanding on ideas presented here.
Physics and the Indian Spiritual TraditionGiulio Prisco
Â
Slides of my talk titled âPhysics and the Indian Spiritual Traditionâ given at the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, India, on February 10, 2018.
An Introduction to Philosophy
Lecture 01: Introduction
James Mooney
Open Studies
The University of Edinburgh
j.mooney@ed.ac.uk
www.filmandphilosophy.com
@film_philosophy
Equation of everything i.e. Quantum Fields: the Real Building Blocks of the U...inventionjournals
Â
Mind, the inner most box of nature has not been investigated by modern physicists .Mind has not been incorporated in Standard model. Mind can only be studied by participatory science. Having searched Basic building blocks of the universe i.e. mass part of reality, we have also investigated mind part of reality and finally two fundamental particles with mind and mass realities are hypothesized . Now we discuss how to further investigate mind so as to know their structures and functions. Atomic genetics is the branch of science where we investigate about fundamental interactions of the universe i.e. atomic transcription and translations. New words have been coined to understand hidden science of mind part of reality. Mind reality have been recognized as different faces by âIâ about 5000 years back to Arjuna in Mahabharata. It is just like to understand any language through Alphabets. These are (different faces) Alphabets of mind reality. One Mind reality has one face identity and the second mind reality has second face identity and so on. The facial expression represents phenomenon of intelligence and different face represents different types of properties carrying property. The open eyes means property is activated while close eye means property is inactivated. In spite of carrying properties conscious ness they also know how to conduct not only origin of universe but also how to create two different universe i.e. next creation could be different from this creation. In all, It is automatic system of the universe. The mind realities which are of good properties have devtas face identity (first five faces on both side and those mind realities which are of bad properties have demons face identity ( last four faces on both side) . These are named as code PCPs or messenger atomic genes. The central face is CCP or Thought script where all thoughts of the universe are banked. It is bank of data of all information s of the universe It is face identity of Anti mind particles as data of all informationâs of the universe are stored as anti mind particles . It is the Time mind ness (biological clock) that keeps on expressing different thoughts from this thought script (CCP). There are four more faces (black bodies) shown on extreme left and right floating in fire are CPs (translating Atomic genes). That translates the messages and realizes it and reacts accordingly. Rest pictures are creation of different individuals and nature (sun, moon and snake and other pictures made on hands and body) by different thoughts of Almighty B.B.B. The entire picture has been explained in Geeta in 11/ 10 and 11.Whatever is being created in this universe is basically not by our thoughts rather it is the thought of Almighty B.B.B (Yang B.B.B or matter B.B.B. or Male B.B.B working as Highest center of the universe. ) that is dominated over creation and destruction of this cycle of the universe. Hence the World of Everyday Experience, in One Equation is Myth.
Classic and Modern Philosophy: Rationalism and EmpicismMusfera Nara Vadia
Â
Rationalism and the rationalists, such as Plato, Descartes, and so on.
Empiricism and empiricists, such as Aristotle, Locke, Hume, Kant, William James.
The Skepticism and the Dialectic as Instruments of Apprehension of Knowledge:...QUESTJOURNAL
Â
ABSTRACT: The rationalist aspect of philosophy has in Plato and Descartes two of its main exponents. These are two distant thinkers about twenty centuries in time, but they have several possibilities of theoretical approaches, especially when used as guiding the study of his works the epistemological issues related to the dialectic (platonic) and the logical skepticism (Cartesian). Among these multiple possibilities of understanding of philosophy (and, more precisely, the epistemological perspective) of these philosophers, i will look for in the lines bellow to develop a brief essay regarding the role of dialog and doubt methodical as possibilities of research in epistemological work of these authors that became classics of human knowledge.
Chernobyl Essay. Nuclear Power Accident: Chernobyl Free Essay Sample on Samp...Britney Gilbert
Â
The Chernobyl Disaster - 718 Words | Free Essay Example on GraduateWay. How successful was the management of the Chernobyl Incident? - A-Level .... The Truth About Chernobyl. - A-Level History - Marked by Teachers.com. (PDF) The Chernobyl reactor accident: Some selected facts. Essay: Chernobyl Revisited | Radio Boston. Chernobyl Research Sources | Chernobyl Disaster | Nuclear Reactor. á Essays On Chernobyl
What is Consciousness? Are Near-Death Experiences Proof of Consciousness Afte...Paul H. Carr
Â
I. SCIENCE: Human Consciousness Emerged from the Cosmos
In The Beginning: Energy, a hot Big Bang 13.8 Billion years ago.
II. RELIGION: Cosmos Emerged From Divine Consciousness
In The Beginning: âSpirit of God,â Gen 1:2
âWord (Logos) was God,â John 1:1
Human micro-consciousness part of cosmic
macro-consciousness.
Emersonâs âOversoulâ
III. ARE NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES PROOF OF CONSIOUSNESS AFTER DEATH?
This paper presents the evolution of the scientific method that has been instrumental in promoting the advancement of science and also technology throughout history. It is important to note that the scientific method refers to a cluster of basic rules of how to be the procedure in order to produce scientific knowledge, either new knowledge, either a correction or an increase of previously existing knowledge. The scientific method, therefore, is nothing more than the logic applied to science. The search for a suitable scientific method guided the action of most thinkers of the sixteenth and seventeenth highlighting among them Galileo Galilei, Francis Bacon, RenÊ Descartes and Isaac Newton, who with their contributions were crucial to the structure of what we call today of modern science. In addition to these thinkers, it was also important later contributions of Hegel, Marx, Engels, Popper, Russell, Duhem, PoincarÊ, Morin, etc.
"All life is biology. All biology is physiology. All physiology is chemistry. All chemistry is physics. All physics is math." Dr. Stephen Marquardt
Classical physics vs. quantum physic
Drug interactions vs. electromagnetic interactions
If there is science, it must be math
Phi, The Golden Number
God, Creation and Phi
Phi and the human body
Sound, vibration and form
Forms, patterns, geometries, ratios
Earth and human survival on it is endangered. Drastic climatic changes, restlessness of various ecological systems speaks this. The knowledge we have acquired seems very much wanting to survive the disastrous end to which we are moving. We need to know Truth of Nature and its working in a simple manner and act quickly to survive on earth.
Humankind at a Crossroads: A Call to Action!!! PART 2Lauren Tratar
Â
Einstein stated: âProblems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.â Thus, the multi-pronged attack being waged against Humanity: GMO's, fracking, chemtrails, foreclosures, loss of pensions, HAARP, unemployment, quantitative easing, the manipulation of gold and silver prices, Libor etc. has a higher purpose. These events are tests, catalysts designed to push us out of our comfort zones and take a stand for what we believe in. We have arrived at an evolutionary critical juncture the Ancients foretold; a Crossroads where our current methods of problem-solving would be ineffective thereby forcing us to find solutions at the next level of awareness. That knowledge was destined to be revealed at this precarious point so that we had the tools to resolve the myriad challenges we are now facing and to create a promising future. The question is: Have you had enough? Are you willing to learn what lies outside your comfort zone and make a difference?
Plato's philosophy is in line with the pre-Socratics, sophists and artistic traditions that underlie Greek education, in a new framework, defined by dialectics and the theory of Ideas. For Plato, knowledge is an activity of the soul, affected by sensible objects, and by internal processes. Platonism has its origins in Plato's philosophy, although it is not to be confused with it. According to Platonism, there are abstract objects (a notion different from that of modern philosophy that exists in another realm distinct from both the external sensible world and the internal world of consciousness, and is the opposite of nominalism). An essential distinction for Plato in his philosophy is the theory of Forms, the distinction between perceptible but unintelligible reality (science) and imperceptible but intelligible reality (mathematics) Geometry was Plato's main motivation, and this shows the influence of Pythagoras. Forms are perfect archetypes whose real objects are imperfect copies.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.21536.05121
An Introduction to Philosophy
Lecture 01: Introduction
James Mooney
Open Studies
The University of Edinburgh
j.mooney@ed.ac.uk
www.filmandphilosophy.com
@film_philosophy
Equation of everything i.e. Quantum Fields: the Real Building Blocks of the U...inventionjournals
Â
Mind, the inner most box of nature has not been investigated by modern physicists .Mind has not been incorporated in Standard model. Mind can only be studied by participatory science. Having searched Basic building blocks of the universe i.e. mass part of reality, we have also investigated mind part of reality and finally two fundamental particles with mind and mass realities are hypothesized . Now we discuss how to further investigate mind so as to know their structures and functions. Atomic genetics is the branch of science where we investigate about fundamental interactions of the universe i.e. atomic transcription and translations. New words have been coined to understand hidden science of mind part of reality. Mind reality have been recognized as different faces by âIâ about 5000 years back to Arjuna in Mahabharata. It is just like to understand any language through Alphabets. These are (different faces) Alphabets of mind reality. One Mind reality has one face identity and the second mind reality has second face identity and so on. The facial expression represents phenomenon of intelligence and different face represents different types of properties carrying property. The open eyes means property is activated while close eye means property is inactivated. In spite of carrying properties conscious ness they also know how to conduct not only origin of universe but also how to create two different universe i.e. next creation could be different from this creation. In all, It is automatic system of the universe. The mind realities which are of good properties have devtas face identity (first five faces on both side and those mind realities which are of bad properties have demons face identity ( last four faces on both side) . These are named as code PCPs or messenger atomic genes. The central face is CCP or Thought script where all thoughts of the universe are banked. It is bank of data of all information s of the universe It is face identity of Anti mind particles as data of all informationâs of the universe are stored as anti mind particles . It is the Time mind ness (biological clock) that keeps on expressing different thoughts from this thought script (CCP). There are four more faces (black bodies) shown on extreme left and right floating in fire are CPs (translating Atomic genes). That translates the messages and realizes it and reacts accordingly. Rest pictures are creation of different individuals and nature (sun, moon and snake and other pictures made on hands and body) by different thoughts of Almighty B.B.B. The entire picture has been explained in Geeta in 11/ 10 and 11.Whatever is being created in this universe is basically not by our thoughts rather it is the thought of Almighty B.B.B (Yang B.B.B or matter B.B.B. or Male B.B.B working as Highest center of the universe. ) that is dominated over creation and destruction of this cycle of the universe. Hence the World of Everyday Experience, in One Equation is Myth.
Classic and Modern Philosophy: Rationalism and EmpicismMusfera Nara Vadia
Â
Rationalism and the rationalists, such as Plato, Descartes, and so on.
Empiricism and empiricists, such as Aristotle, Locke, Hume, Kant, William James.
The Skepticism and the Dialectic as Instruments of Apprehension of Knowledge:...QUESTJOURNAL
Â
ABSTRACT: The rationalist aspect of philosophy has in Plato and Descartes two of its main exponents. These are two distant thinkers about twenty centuries in time, but they have several possibilities of theoretical approaches, especially when used as guiding the study of his works the epistemological issues related to the dialectic (platonic) and the logical skepticism (Cartesian). Among these multiple possibilities of understanding of philosophy (and, more precisely, the epistemological perspective) of these philosophers, i will look for in the lines bellow to develop a brief essay regarding the role of dialog and doubt methodical as possibilities of research in epistemological work of these authors that became classics of human knowledge.
Chernobyl Essay. Nuclear Power Accident: Chernobyl Free Essay Sample on Samp...Britney Gilbert
Â
The Chernobyl Disaster - 718 Words | Free Essay Example on GraduateWay. How successful was the management of the Chernobyl Incident? - A-Level .... The Truth About Chernobyl. - A-Level History - Marked by Teachers.com. (PDF) The Chernobyl reactor accident: Some selected facts. Essay: Chernobyl Revisited | Radio Boston. Chernobyl Research Sources | Chernobyl Disaster | Nuclear Reactor. á Essays On Chernobyl
What is Consciousness? Are Near-Death Experiences Proof of Consciousness Afte...Paul H. Carr
Â
I. SCIENCE: Human Consciousness Emerged from the Cosmos
In The Beginning: Energy, a hot Big Bang 13.8 Billion years ago.
II. RELIGION: Cosmos Emerged From Divine Consciousness
In The Beginning: âSpirit of God,â Gen 1:2
âWord (Logos) was God,â John 1:1
Human micro-consciousness part of cosmic
macro-consciousness.
Emersonâs âOversoulâ
III. ARE NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES PROOF OF CONSIOUSNESS AFTER DEATH?
This paper presents the evolution of the scientific method that has been instrumental in promoting the advancement of science and also technology throughout history. It is important to note that the scientific method refers to a cluster of basic rules of how to be the procedure in order to produce scientific knowledge, either new knowledge, either a correction or an increase of previously existing knowledge. The scientific method, therefore, is nothing more than the logic applied to science. The search for a suitable scientific method guided the action of most thinkers of the sixteenth and seventeenth highlighting among them Galileo Galilei, Francis Bacon, RenÊ Descartes and Isaac Newton, who with their contributions were crucial to the structure of what we call today of modern science. In addition to these thinkers, it was also important later contributions of Hegel, Marx, Engels, Popper, Russell, Duhem, PoincarÊ, Morin, etc.
"All life is biology. All biology is physiology. All physiology is chemistry. All chemistry is physics. All physics is math." Dr. Stephen Marquardt
Classical physics vs. quantum physic
Drug interactions vs. electromagnetic interactions
If there is science, it must be math
Phi, The Golden Number
God, Creation and Phi
Phi and the human body
Sound, vibration and form
Forms, patterns, geometries, ratios
Earth and human survival on it is endangered. Drastic climatic changes, restlessness of various ecological systems speaks this. The knowledge we have acquired seems very much wanting to survive the disastrous end to which we are moving. We need to know Truth of Nature and its working in a simple manner and act quickly to survive on earth.
Humankind at a Crossroads: A Call to Action!!! PART 2Lauren Tratar
Â
Einstein stated: âProblems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.â Thus, the multi-pronged attack being waged against Humanity: GMO's, fracking, chemtrails, foreclosures, loss of pensions, HAARP, unemployment, quantitative easing, the manipulation of gold and silver prices, Libor etc. has a higher purpose. These events are tests, catalysts designed to push us out of our comfort zones and take a stand for what we believe in. We have arrived at an evolutionary critical juncture the Ancients foretold; a Crossroads where our current methods of problem-solving would be ineffective thereby forcing us to find solutions at the next level of awareness. That knowledge was destined to be revealed at this precarious point so that we had the tools to resolve the myriad challenges we are now facing and to create a promising future. The question is: Have you had enough? Are you willing to learn what lies outside your comfort zone and make a difference?
Plato's philosophy is in line with the pre-Socratics, sophists and artistic traditions that underlie Greek education, in a new framework, defined by dialectics and the theory of Ideas. For Plato, knowledge is an activity of the soul, affected by sensible objects, and by internal processes. Platonism has its origins in Plato's philosophy, although it is not to be confused with it. According to Platonism, there are abstract objects (a notion different from that of modern philosophy that exists in another realm distinct from both the external sensible world and the internal world of consciousness, and is the opposite of nominalism). An essential distinction for Plato in his philosophy is the theory of Forms, the distinction between perceptible but unintelligible reality (science) and imperceptible but intelligible reality (mathematics) Geometry was Plato's main motivation, and this shows the influence of Pythagoras. Forms are perfect archetypes whose real objects are imperfect copies.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.21536.05121
Introduction to AI for Nonprofits with Tapp NetworkTechSoup
Â
Dive into the world of AI! Experts Jon Hill and Tareq Monaur will guide you through AI's role in enhancing nonprofit websites and basic marketing strategies, making it easy to understand and apply.
This presentation was provided by Steph Pollock of The American Psychological Associationâs Journals Program, and Damita Snow, of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), for the initial session of NISO's 2024 Training Series "DEIA in the Scholarly Landscape." Session One: 'Setting Expectations: a DEIA Primer,' was held June 6, 2024.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Â
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
âĸ The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
âĸ The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate âany matterâ at âany timeâ under House Rule X.
âĸ The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
Executive Directors Chat Leveraging AI for Diversity, Equity, and InclusionTechSoup
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Letâs explore the intersection of technology and equity in the final session of our DEI series. Discover how AI tools, like ChatGPT, can be used to support and enhance your nonprofit's DEI initiatives. Participants will gain insights into practical AI applications and get tips for leveraging technology to advance their DEI goals.
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty, In...Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
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Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty,
International FDP on Fundamentals of Research in Social Sciences
at Integral University, Lucknow, 06.06.2024
By Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
An Analysis Of Descartes S Meditations On First Philosophy On The Matrix Trilogy
1. SAE Institute London
SAE 502: Analytical Essay
An Analysis of Descartesâs
Meditations on First Philosophy on
The Matrix Trilogy
Student Details
Sina Hamidi
16579
ADHE0114
AE (ES)
BA/BSc (Hons) Audio Production
17 April 2015
Word Count: 3803
Module Leader/Lecturer: Gillian Mclver
An Analysis of Descartesâs Meditations on First Philosophy on The Matrix Trilogy
2. Table of Contents
Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3
Meditations on First Philosophy ------------------------------------------------------------ 4
Chapter 1
The Matrix Trilogy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
A Brief Matrix Plot ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Chapter 2
Psychological Similarities and Differences between Medications on First
Philosophy and The Matrix Trilogy
The Skeptical Dilemma ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
The Mind-Body Scenario in The Matrix Trilogy ----------------------------------------- 7
Mind and Body Materialism ---------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Chapter 3
The Synergies Between the Post-Modern Society and The Matrix Trilogy ----------10
Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11
References ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12
Bibliography --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13
An Analysis of Descartesâs Meditations on First Philosophy on The Matrix Trilogy
2
3. INTRODUCTION
Since the early Roman period, The Catholic Church had a big impact on European
societies and become the most powerful authority. Questioning, having thoughts or
even thinking out of the Catholic Church doctrine could be punished by imprisonment
or even death. (Venable, Father of Modern Philosophy and Scholasticism)
As time progressed, Europe began to move forward in education and enabled
individuals to think more independently. The Church began to let people to think and
learn, as long as the subject material was well approved. Religious leaders decided to
permit people to seek education without putting the church in a danger by losing
power. âLearning has moved from the control of the Church and has become
secularized due in part to the work of such thinkers as Descartesâ. (Venable, Father
of Modern Philosophy and Scholasticism)
In the late 16th century and the early 17th century, accessibility to knowledge became
easier in majority of Western Europe through advancements in discoveries which
pushed society forward. As a result, scholars such as âRene Descartesâ took
advantages of the separation between religion and science to start building the modern
thoughts. (Venable, Father of Modern Philosophy and Scholasticism)
This analytical essay aims to indicate the influences of Descartes based on his core
principal of mind over body, and his skeptic approach to life as a whole, by taking
reference from his famous work âMeditations on First philosophyâ. Specifically, by
focusing more on the âFirst, Second and Sixth Meditationâ which will attempt to
explain and demonstrate some of the psychological links, cross-over synergies and
contrasts as seen in âThe Matrix Trilogyâ within the psychological context, as well as
analyzing the Matrix Trilogy using post-modern perspective.
An Analysis of Descartesâs Meditations on First Philosophy on The Matrix Trilogy
3
4. MEDITATION ON FIRST PHILOSOPHY
In 1641 Descartes published his Meditations on First philosophy in latin, in relation to
a response to the âDogmatismâ of the time by the theologians and the many great
thinkers and philosophers of both from the ancient and contemporary world of that
era. (A. Watson, Rene Descartes)
Descartes based his extensive knowledge and belief and skepticism on the Greek
philosopher Sextus Empiricus (3rd century) and later in Montaigne (1533-92) and
furthermore, from the Catholic theologian Charron (1541-1603). The principal
assumption for his findings was that if one is thinking, even when if one is deceived
one must therefore exist regardless. The paradigm of âI think therefore I amâ has
been the core of Descartes philosophy of existence. Descartes argued that all ideas are
âclear and distinctâ. He subsequently went on to justify the existence of God.
According to the First Meditation, God is perfect: he does not deceive and as God
leads us to the material world which physically exists, therefore God must exist.
(Watson, Rene Descartes)
Meditations on First Philosophy had a significant influence on the secularization. It
introduced a school of thinking which has continued to inspire and influence todayâs
society. The methods used in the Meditations were totally innovative in its arguments
for its time. Meditations has a logical, scientific template which synthesized
Descartes's knowledge of that area. In a solstitial phase, Descartes eliminated the
Churchâs influence as much as possible from the content of Meditation and he
centralized his own knowledge in order to begin with a new philosophical approach.
Meditation on First Philosophy influenced and enlightened the scientists, to be able to
demonstrate the worldâs functions in a more clear way. (Venable, Father of Modern
Philosophy and Scholasticism)
Meditation on First Philosophy challenges the philosophical opinions and facts behind
its time in various ways. It attempts to start the arguments from scratch without any
reference to any other philosophical sources. In fact, âMeditations on First philosophy
demolishing everything and starting again right from the foundationsâ. For this
reason Meditations use doubt as a tool to move forward on the the journey towards
assurance and truth. It tries to explain; metaphysics, natural science and morals from
the psychological, philosophical and biological sides of the human understanding.
(Cotthingham, 1986, p. xviii)
An Analysis of Descartesâs Meditations on First Philosophy on The Matrix Trilogy
4
5. Chapter 1
THE MATRIX TRILOGY
The Matrix Trilogy (Andy and Larra Wachowski) is composed of three science-fiction
movies, the first of which was released in 1999. The first âMatrixâ had a deep
influence on people such as philosophers and art critics as a post-modern pop culture
product. The content of the first movie is based on philosophical ideas which caused
its audiences to question and think deeper about the content. (Kurt, 2008)
A BRIEF MATRIX PLOT
Computer software programer âThomas A. Andersonâ has a secret life as a hacker
under the name of âNeoâ. The movie follows him as he tries to find the answer to the
question âWhat is the Matrixâ? Confusing messages appear on his monitor screen
from a secret group led by the mysterious âMorpheusâ, who offers him the chance to
learn the truth about the Matrix. Neo decides to accept the offer by choosing a red pill
instead of a blue pill. Suddenly, he wakes up naked in a red semi-liquid-filled capsule,
his body plugged by several wires to an extensive mechanical constellation. He
severed from the wire connections and sees himself in Morpheusâs hovercraft, the
âNebuchadnezzarâ. His physical body is restored, and Morpheus starts explaining the
situation. (Wachowskis, 1999)
The year is around 2199, and humans are fighting a war against intelligent machines
designed and created in the early 21st century. Thick black clouds cover the sky, made
by humans to cut off the machines supply of solar power. The machines grow
unlimited amount of humans in special capsules, to be used as their energy source.
The machines need humans bioelectrical energy and body heat to survive.
(Wachowskis, 1999)
Morpheus leads a group of people, known as free humans, whose job are to âunplugâ
the victims of the Matrix, bringing them together in the formation of a huge
resistance. Equipped with a profound knowledge of the Matrix, they are able to
manipulate the laws of physics within the simulated world, resulting in superhuman
abilities. (Wachowskis, 1999)
Neo trains to become a member of the group. A port in the back of Noeâs skull is used
to import his mind to the Matrix, and allows information to be uploaded directly into
his mind. He covers a lot of material and demonstrates his kung fu ability in a virtual
environment very similar to the Matrix. Further developing in the plot introduces Neo
to the main danger; that if he is killed in the Matrix, his body will die as well. He
notices the presence of Agents, a powerful and fast sentient program with the ability
to take over the virtual body of anyone who still connected to the system. Their
mission is to seek out and remove any menace to the system. Morpheus knows that
ones Neo fully believes his own abilities as âThe Oneâ they will be no match for him.
(Wachowskis, 1999)
An Analysis of Descartesâs Meditations on First Philosophy on The Matrix Trilogy
5
6. Chapter 2
PSYCHOLOGICAL SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
MEDITATIONS ON FIRST PHILOSOPHY AND THE MATRIX TRILOGY
THE SKEPTICAL DILEMMA
In the First Meditation, Descartes tries to explain which of his opinions could be
maintained as a certain belief. In order to do that, he introduced the famous âMethod
of doubtâ. He starts the First Meditation by throwing away all his beliefs, and find a
solution to recognize them if only it could be shown that they were completely and
absolutely certain.
âImagine the work involved in tying to prove that sentient machine aren't secretly
plotting a war against us at this very moment, he simply checked his beliefs to see if
they admitted any room for doubt. If a belief could be doubted, Descartes withheld his
assent from it.â (Lawrence, 2004, p.21)
By using this method, the First Meditation ends up with some remarkable
conclusions, which in our century, delivers the essential structure of the Matrix
movies. One of the first important conclusion of employing this method was that there
is no certain way that to be completely sure that we are not dreaming at any given
moment. (Lawrence, 2004, p.22)
As Descartes stated in his Meditations on First philosophy:
âHow often, at night, Iâve been convinced that I was here, sitting before the fire,
wearing my dressing grown, when in fact I was undressed and between the covers of
my bed! ... I see so plainly that there are no reliable sings by which I can distinguish
sleeping from waking that I am stupefied - and my stupor itself suggests that I am
sleep!â (Lawrence, 2004, p.22)
The Matrix also asks to consider that our entire life could be possibly a dream. As
Morpheus asks Noe:
âHave you ever had a dream ... that you were so sure was real? What if you were
unable to wake from that dream? How would you know the difference between the
dream and the real world?â (Wachowskis, 1999)
Normally, we are aware that some experiences are real and can be predictable. For
example, people can not walk on clouds in real life while they sometime can in
dreams. It is not hard to imagine that experiences we have in dreams, such as fly from
one place to another, are impossible events in real life. But if our entire life has been a
dream, then there is nothing to define what experiences are real and what experiences
are dreams. In this scenario, the dreams that we experience every night are just
dreams within dreams, so Morpheusâs suggestion could be correct if we ânever
An Analysis of Descartesâs Meditations on First Philosophy on The Matrix Trilogy
6
7. awakened from the dream to see what âreal lifeâ is acutely likeâ, [we]you would have
absolutely no way to discern that [we]you are dreamingâ. (Lawrence, 2004, p.22)
As the Matrix movies demonstrate, there are even worse probabilities than living in a
dream. Rather, our entire life could be a âintentional deceptionâ - âa world pulled
over your eyes to blind you from the truthâ. Interestingly enough, Descartes took a
look at this at Meditations on First philosophy by employing his methodical doubt to
itâs logical limits: (Lawrence, 2004, p.22)
âI will say that sky, air, earth, color, shape, sound, and other external things are just
dreamed illusions which the demon uses to ensure my judgment. I will regard myself
as not having hands, eyes, flesh, blood, and sense - but as having the false belief that
I have all these things... [I]f I do not really have the ability to know the truth, I will at
least withhold assent from what is false and from what a deceiver may try to put over
on me, however power and cunning he may beâ. (Lawrence, 2004, p.22)
The computer-simulated dreamworld of the Matrix Trilogy is a high-tech version of
what Descartes demonstrates on the First Meditation. In theory, it indicates âthe idea
of a mind (the Architecture) more powerful than our own that is intent on deceiving us
whenever, and however it sees fitâ. If the technology continues to progress, one day,
we will be able to invent a âbrain simulatorâ to perceive whatever we design, create
and program to perceive. This concept seems to fit perfectly with the Matrix Trilogy.
It represents that basically a well-developed neuroscience simulated system could
create âany mental state we want just by stimulating our brain in the appropriate
wayâ. (Lawrence, 2004, p. 22, 23 & 24)
THE MIND-BODY SCENARIO IN THE MATRIX TRILOGY
In one of The Matrix Revolutionâs (Matrix 3) scene, Neo wakes up in the train station
software, however, his body is not plugged in to the Matrix program. It shows at least
that his mind has divided from his physical body. It also suggests that his mind in
some sense works separately from his brain. (Lawrence, 2004, p.33)
In order to determine how to make this event possible, we have to take a look at the
Descartesâs âMind-Body Dualismâ theory in the Second Meditation which can
explain the Neoâs disembodiment situation at the train station software. (Lawrence,
2004, p.34)
The Second Meditation demonstrates that humans beings are a combination of two
separate matters. One non-material, which is the mind, sprit or soul and the other
material, which is the brain and body. Brian and body can be specified in terms of
size, shape and locality but mind cannot specified in this way. (Lawrence, 2004, p.34)
For example, in the Matrix, Morpheus hopes that Noe is The One, we cannot prove
that how big his hope is, or what shape it is. Instead, his state of mind can be
An Analysis of Descartesâs Meditations on First Philosophy on The Matrix Trilogy
7
8. characterised in terms of his feelings, emotions, thoughts, wills, etc about Neo. As a
result, we can place our minds in a specific time, while we are unable to locate our
thinking experiences in space, as they do not have any physical shape, size or colour.
(Lawrence, 2004, p.34)
As stated by the Mind-Body Dualism in the Second Mediation, âThe mind and body
are ultimately distinct substances, and therefore they should be capable of existing on
their ownâ. All the materiel objects can exist around us apart from our minds.
Mind-Body Dualism readily explains that there is no reason to presume that minds/
souls and body cannot exist without each other. Therefore, in the Matrix Revolution,
the Mind-Body Dualism view does not completely reject the scenario in which Noeâs
mind has got separated from his body while such a thing could be regarded as
uncommon. (Lawrence, 2004, p.34)
On the other hand, Dualism looks across some other thoughtful hypothetical
difficulties. For example, if the mind is entirely spiritual, how is it possible to
communicate/interact with the body? or how is it possible for something without
physical size or weight, such as opinion, tendency or will, to cause something big and
heavy like your legs to move? (Lawrence, 2004, p.35)
The solution for this matter can be found on the Sixth Meditation where Descartes
talks about a physical point of connection, ânot altogether unlike the plug on the back
of Neoâs headâ. Descartes impounded that the connectivity most presumably arises in
the âPineal Glandâ, which is a small endocrine gland located in the vertebrate brain.
(Lawrence, 2004, p.35)
However, the physiologist knowledge of the time of Meditations is unable to
completely solve the problem, as we now know more about the mechanism of the
pineal gland and how it hooks up to the brain, but we cannot perceive how an
immortal soul gets hooked up to the pineal gland. Accordingly, the pineal gland
solution is a more specific location which is very similar to the essential problem we
started with. (Lawrence, 2004, p.35)
Another problem in the Descartesâs Sixth Meditation, âis the lack of empirical
evidence for Mind-Body Dualismâ, as it only demonstrated the distinction between
mind and body which can exist without the other as a logical possibility,âthe idea
itself is not self-contradictoryâ but this does not imply that it is physically
convincible. As âDavid Humeâ in the eighteenth-century stated, it is logically
possible that the sun will not rise tomorrow, but it would be non-sense to start
preparing for a dark age. As a result, valid credences require more than just logical
possibilities, they also require reliable and positive evidences. Hence, we can argue
that Min-Body Dualism fall short and is no longer a solid argument. (Lawrence, 2004,
p.35)
Therefore, the Mind-Body scenario in the Matrix cannot be accepted by just taking
reference from the Meditations. The only realistic theory exist to admit the Matrix
An Analysis of Descartesâs Meditations on First Philosophy on The Matrix Trilogy
8
9. mind-body scenario is the materialistic perspective of the mind. Scientists and
philosopher are now argue that it is not important that the âMaterialismâ is true; for
them the question remains, which materialist theory is true and is more reliable?
(Lawrence, 2004, p.37)
MIND AND BODY MATERIALISM
With the help of modern technology, such as the mapping of the human genome and
the CAT scan, some of the most technical evidences about the Materialism have been
discovered. But some of the essential Materialism evidences have been around since
antiquity. For instance, certain psychedelic drugs cause the user to see, hear and feel
things that are not actually ârealâ, quite like plugging into the Matrix. Therefore, we
can argue that such âoccurs (as in the Matrix) through the physical stimulation of
particular regions of the brainâ, or there is a fact that, humans fall unconscious if
they hit really hard from their head âthereby loosing their supposedly immaterial
mental states completelyâ. (Lawrence, 2004, p.35)
To summarise, most of the Materialism theories of the mind argue that human's
mental state is closely relevant to our brain state and this relationship can be
characterised as a matter of dispute. âIdentity Theoryâ which is also called âReductive
Materialismâ, âmaintains that mental states just are physical state of the brainâ.
Accordingly, every single mental state eventually decreases to a physical state of the
brain âGenerally a particular patterns of neurons firingâ as in the Matrix Morpheus
claims that âThe body cannot live without the mindâ. Fundamentally, the Matrix
trilogy is rejecting the Descartesâs Mind-Body Dualism view on the Second and Sixth
Meditation by displaying that âthe mind and brain are essentially the same thing. âTo
be âmind-deadâ is identical to beingâbrain-deadâ and vice versaâ. (Lawrence, 2004,
p.38)
An Analysis of Descartesâs Meditations on First Philosophy on The Matrix Trilogy
9
10. Chapter 3
THE SYNERGIES BETWEEN THE POST-MODERN SOCIETY AND THE
MATRIX TRILOGY
The Matrix as a post-modern product tries to show that the philosophical nature of the
soul has layers within layers albeit with some degree of controversies. There is more
to life, and the existence of the state of mind and body. This is very relevant to the
modern society and in particular in the world of arts and media, where dream and
reality becomes marred and often cannot be separated between the two. (Kurt, 2008)
Referring to the Matrix plot, it tells the story of a dark future where the world is ruled
by artificial intelligence and people become slaves. The language and the style of the
Matrix are minimalists in that the present and the future become inseparable. This has
become more prevalent in the modern society, where the tendency to look, say and
behave uniformly and indistinguishable. For instance, this is very true in the fashion
and costumes as seen in the movie. One of the most important aspects in our
capitalists societies is the power of commodities, and forever buying and selling
goods and services. In the movie, Neo can see the resemblance to âNew Yorkâ city
where the dress code reflects the modern business attire: all looking dark gloomy, and
functional. (Kurt, 2008)
As Korkut Kurt stated, such comparisons have been mentioned by âGuy Debordâ in
his work called: âSociety of the Spectacleâ. (Kurt, 2008)
âIn the societies dominated by the modern production conditions all life presented
itself as a cumulative spectacle. What is lived as directly in the past has been moved
to the world of representation. Images from all over the places of life joined into a
stream where this life can not be repeated again. Reality is though as a representation
object which is unfolded in its so called-world as its common unity.â (Kurt, 2008)
As stated by Debord, representations, images and signs are dramatically increased in
our modern society, in which they configure a network (Matrix), establishing a scene
which is so much more relevant to us than the non-representational. The non-
representational ends up as not being abstraction-able. This is quite true when one
glances at the world of TV or the computer screen in the contemporary life, where
reality is shaped by human production and fabrication. (Irwin and Weberman, 2002, p.
230)
In computer generated simulation, we do not only produce and consume man made
representations of the world, we can totally and completely simulate the entire world
as well. For example, we can simulate real life situations like a car crash, sense of
weightlessness and experiencing all senses of fear, joy and sadness through
simulations or simulacra. (Irwin and Weberman, 2002, p. 230)
An Analysis of Descartesâs Meditations on First Philosophy on The Matrix Trilogy
10
11. In the twenty first century, the computer generated simulation is still in its infancy.
But if we imagine the world of science and technology through the Matrix Trilogy, we
could be transported into the world of virtual reality. The cyberspace in the Matrix
shows a white open space where Morpheus first shows Neo the âinsideâ of a computer
program, which depicts two red leather armchairs and a TV replicates 1950s. The
Matrix replicates not the gloomy world of 1999, but shows perfect blue skies and
world of plenty. The Matrix offers a paradise of sensual pleasures compared to the real
world. Fundamentally, simulation is an improved reality which has been enhanced.
One can see this in a typical IMAX theaters around the world, where they attempt to
reach this virtual reality. The Matrix plot offers more than sensual pleasures, it tackles
the old fashioned Hollywood; a typical post-modern morality dilemma of good versus
evil. (Irwin and Weberman, 2002, p. 231 & 232)
CONCLUSION
In our modern society, and in the age of skepticism, the question of what is ârealâ and
what is not becomes more blurred. This is quite apparent in the framework as seen in
the Meditation on First Philosophy by Desecrates and then later in the post-modernist
era of the Wachowski Brothers in the Matrix Trilogy. Here everything becomes
innately implausible, all aspects of human perception can be actively deceived.
(McGrth, The Desert of the Real)
Therefore, the question of whether simulated reality can ever be as or even more
metaphysically real as un-simulated reality, can be summed up in the following
extract by âJean Baudrillardâ: (Irwin and Weberman, 2002, p. 243)
âThe very definition of the real becomes: that of which it is possible to give an
equivalent reproduction . . . At the limit of this process of reproducibility, the real is
not only what can be reproduced, but that which is always already reproduced. The
hyperreal . . . transcends representation . . . only because it is entirely in
simulation . . . [A]rtifice is at the very heart of realityâ.
(Irwin and Weberman, 2002, p. 243)
From Meditations by Descartes, âSimulacra and Simulationâ by Budrillard to The
Matrix Trilogy by Wachowski Brothers, the notion has been that all our human senses
can be actively deceived. The film in particular has managed to focus on popular
belief which is at the heart of post-modern cultures â that at times we are able to
âfreeâ our minds and catch a glimpse of âwhat is really realâ. (McGrth, The Desert of
the Real)
Paradoxically, it is the real that has become our true utopia â but a utopia that is no
longer in the realm of the possible, that can only be dreamt of as one would dream of
a lost objectâ.(Baudrillard, 1994, p. 122 & 123)
An Analysis of Descartesâs Meditations on First Philosophy on The Matrix Trilogy
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12. References
Venable, S. (n.d.) âFather of Modern Philosophy and Scholasticismâ. Philosophy 301
[Online]. Available at:
https://www.southeastern.edu/acad_research/programs/writing_center/pick/backissue/
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A. Watson, R. (n.d.) Rene Descartes . Available at:
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Cottingham, J. (ed.) (1987) Descartes, R. Meditations On First Philosophy.
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Lawrence, M. Like A Splinter In Your Mind. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub
Irwin, W. (2002). The Matrix And Philosophy. Chicago: Open Court.
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13. Bibliography
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http://www.all-art.org/world_literature/descartes1.htm (Accessed: 20 March 2015)
Baudrillard, J. (1994). Simulacra and simulation. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan
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14. The Matrix Reloaded (2003) Directed by Wachowskis Brothers [DVD] Hollywood,
USA: Warner Brothers
The Matrix Revolutions (2003) Directed by Wachowskis Brothers [DVD] Hollywood,
USA: Warner Brothers
Venable, S. (n.d.) âFather of Modern Philosophy and Scholasticismâ. Philosophy 301
[Online]. Available at:
https://www.southeastern.edu/acad_research/programs/writing_center/pick/backissue/
volume36/assets/venable.pdf (Accessed: 28 March 2015)
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