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Essay "Plato, descartes, and the matrix - module 5" -
grade A
+
Philosophy and Contemporary Ideas (Liberty University)
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Taylor S
Jech Alexander
PHIL 104-D37
25 November 2015
Essay: Plato, Descartes, and the Matrix
Question #1
After reading the three synopsis by Plato’s cave analogy, The Matrix and Descartes’
Meditations on First Philosophy. The similarities between them are that they all questioned if
reality experienced through your senses is real of it is an illusion. In The Matrix, your brains are
connected to a simulated computer that is telling you what to do. In The Republic, they saw
object in the shadows. Descartes explained that in life we are capable of being deceived and he
even asks what reality is. One difference is that Plato’s prisoner escaped and Morpheus helped
Neo escape.
The Allegory of the cave perceives much of what we see today within our society. Girls
exposing their bodies is the new way to become a “celebrity” or be around celebrities. Our
perception of real life is deceived by what we see on social media and our children’s perception
of how they should view life is also deceived. In other words, people who believe in this reality
are related The Republic. Unfortunately, the Allegory of the cave will exist within our society
and I believe it will only get worse. As each generation gets older they gain knowledge from
their elders. If we do not teach the right way they will go astray and will not have a clear view of
what is life and how to properly understand life. Another comparison between The Matrix, The
Republic, and Descartes is that they all questioned a sense of reality. However, they were not
able to replace sensory reality between other alternatives that you can experience with the
senses. Descartes hoped that he would come to a greater enlightenment.
Question #2
I believe that we cannot prove that we are being tricked into a falsehood of reality.
Although, there may be proof that people are not willing to substantially talk about the
allegations within our government system, police force and underhanded people in business.
Although these stories form different ideas, thoughts, and views on what is reality. All three of
these stories conclude with the same question, is “ignorance of bliss” or hardness of reality an
illusion? I believe that when a child is young you should let them shape their own imagination
but keep them in line so that their imagination does not run too wild or far. As a child grows
older there perception of the world starts to change. Their mind is developing more and they
become the resource to outside influencers whether they are positive or negative. What we teach
our younger generation at an early age may help the world in a good way. On the other hand, we
constantly face the battle of negativity surrounding us. Moreover, we have to teach our kids that
it is ok to have an imagination but we must keep a sense of reality around us so we do not get
lose in the haze of imagination that can surround us and our world. You have to be aware of
everything around you and know what is going on in your surroundings.
In conclusion, we may think we know as much as God but we never will for he is all
knowing. As God’s children we all have belief in something. We all know right from wrong and
what we should and should not believe in subjective to our morals. We can make a strong
argument based off of assumptions; however, if the argument does not have any logic or proof
to it how do we believe? I say this because there are many atheist that “try” to make strong
arguments and they do not have facts or proof about their argument. There are only a few things
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in life that we are able to prove such as, math, and language. Furthermore, we are only subjected
to prove what we know.
