Throughout this last unit we have studied seven different philosophers. From Pythagoras’ mathematical interpretation of the world, which is the basic premise of the movie, to Zeno’s compelling arguments against motion and plurality, which are clearly portrayed throughout the film, one is able to better appreciate the genius work that was put into the making of film by understanding the premise of the arguments presented by these philosophers. Parmenides to the Pluralist, all of the philosophers’ ideas can in some way be seen in the movie “Matrix”. Though Heraclitus’ perception of reality seems to have the best connection with the movie’s overall theme, I will attempt to incorporate all of their philosophies amidst the philosophical synopsis of the movie.

When the matrix was first built a man was born in it who could manipulate it and freed the first humans. He taught man the truth. Again the concept that man is unable to reach “truth” withouth the assistance of others is shown here. The Matrix is an evil thing that hinders the human existence. It was proficied by an oricle that he would return and his coming would end the war and bring freedom to man. Neo is told that he is “the one”. Here, the concept of an all knowing oracle is introduced Child of Zion…last human city ..deep under ground near the core where its still warm. He is plugged into a machine and “fed” many programs. (fight scene) to show that like in any program assuming reality, rules can be bent and broken. Morpheus’ Jump in the air…Time is a now. Air? “don’t think u are, know you are”…I’m tryin to free your mind, neo is till thinking he is bound to human constraints. The “Jump program” used to teach to think outside of the box. Like walking on water. When u doubt you sink. He had to realize that he’s not even there. The Mind makes the “experience of the matrix” real. So if your killed in the matrix (your mind dying), the body cant live without the mind.

Neo appears in his room sleeping in front of his computer. He has the look of a person who is in desperate need of something. Suddenly his computer types “wake up Neo” which startles him and wakes him up. This concept of ‘waking’ which is the opposite of ‘sleeping’, alludes to another one of the philosophers we’ve been studying, Heraclitis. He maintains that there is a single logos (law or principle) that governs all things, and is capable being heard and harnessed by all people, but most people “do not exercise their ability to come to understand it, acting instead as if though asleep” and in a “private world”. Heraclitus also uses an appeal to the Oracle at Delphi, but I will cover that as the movie touches on it. This message from an unknown source telling Neo to awaken, seems to imply that he is “asleep” or not in tune with reality. Also in this scene, the audience is introduced to Neo’s illegal operation of selling computer programs, likely to be viruses, to customers who describe him as their “savior” and their “own personal Jesus Christ”. This alludes to his destiny though not yet clearly stated in the film. Neo poses a question asking, “do you ever get that feeling where your not sure if your awake or still dreaming?”, which again illustrates Heraclitus’ argument that man acts as though “asleep” and in a world of their own.

They enter the Matrix . He says that he has memories of his life but, none of them really happened. Trinity answers to Jesus and God throughout. Neo asks what that means. Trinity explains that the matrix cannot tell you what is real. In the oricle’s house the buddist boy plays with spoon that bends. “do not try and bend the spoon , that is impossible, instead try and realize the truth, there is no spoon.” Then you’ll see that its not the spoon that bends, its only yourself.” I believe that the child is the oricle. When Neo asks if she was the oricle, she says bingo , not yes. The Vase. She asks him if he’s the one.. “know thyself” he says he’s not sure. She inspects him and tells him he has the “gift but looks like your waiting for something”. She tells him that he has to make a choice between him and Morpheus are going to die. The cookie.

3. The Arrow- Zeno purposes that time is a series of instances in the “now”. A flying arrow is seen to be at rest since it cannot occupy two places in time at once. Though perceived as in motion, the arrow is actually not moving in Zeno’s analyses. He holds that if we are happy to treat a line as made up of extensionless points, and time as made up of instants that occupy no time, then motion is a seccion of states at rest.

Some topics in this essay:
Refers Alice, Neo Trinity, Moving Blocks-, Switch Agent, Anderson Neo, Jesus God, Real Neo, Agent Neo, Trinity Morpheus, Warner Brothers, red pill, blue pill, “there spoon”, arguments motion, unable reach, scene audience introduced, option choose, heraclitus’ philosophy, choosing ignorance, anaxagoras maintains, scene audience,