What is reality?
REALITY ESSAY
Liberty University Online
PHIL 201- B11
Abstract
What is reality?
To analyze the principles of what is real and what is not, one must understand the
concepts of reality. Two great examples that help define how we perceive reality lies within the
movie The Matrix and with Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Descartes Meditation. The
following is an analyzation of these two works of arts and how it relates to reality and a human
being’s perception of reality.
Keywords: Reality, Beliefs, Understanding, Perception
What Is Reality?
What is reality?
One of man’s most difficult questions to answer is “What is real?” In the movie “The
Matrix” and Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave and Descartes Mediation, reality is often questioned
and dramatized to emphasize the effect it has on human beings. Both works of art explain stories
of people who are mentally kept as prisoners. These prisoners are not actually prisoners, more so
prisoners within their own minds on what the concept of what reality could be. In the Matrix, the
Matrix itself is the herder of all human lives through computer-based control mechanisms that
project what reality is and what it is perceived to be. In conjunction to the Matrix, the Allegory of
the Cave explains that how people are only meant to see what is designed for them to witness.
Both stories project a curved thought process that justify staying on a specific mindset which will
continuously be controlled by a higher entity. Both stories show resemblances to Coherentism by
leading from one reality to the next in a constant cycle to never allow any ambiguity towards the
foundation of a belief system (Dew & Foreman, 2014).
In comparison, these two projections of the world truly explain how mind control
methods are projected upon human beings. Furthermore, the Allegory of the Cave concludes
with dramatic happiness for all humans with the ideology that there is ultimately a clemency to
the oppression. Contrastingly, the Matrix sets forth an image to all humans in the computer-based
world a reality that projects and alters based solely upon an algorithm calculated by the main
computer controlling the Matrix. (Wachowski, A and L, 1999). Furthermore, prisoners of the
Matrix often have the knowledge that the Matrix exists, whereas the Allegory of the Cave’s
captives are oblivious to the mind controls in place. If these principles were applied to everyday
life than reality itself will be questioned and the determination for what is real will be tainted.
Contrastingly, one must also acknowledge the major differences within each story. One of
the more famous statements Descartes states throughout the story is “I think therefore I am”
What is reality?
(Dew & Foreman, 2014). Furthermore, this quote can directly project a contrasting concept
towards the Matrix and its main character “Neo” (Wachowski, A and L, 1999). Neo is constantly
being controlled by the Matrix and he is always burdened with the feeling of slavery and despair.
Eventually he does break free from this manipulation, but it does take quite some time to do so.
Whereas Descartes can believe and think of his existence which continued to solidify that his
reality is indeed true.
In conclusion, we must ask can we prove that the world we are experiencing is real? How
do we know we are not dreaming, living in a Platonic cave, or trapped in some sort of matrix? So
many different obstacles arise from these questions because at any given time, manipulation can
become so powerful that it could cloud the judgement of all human beings on what is real and
what is not. The solution to all of these questions lie within the minds of the entire human race.
People all over must come to wits within themselves to overcome the challenges of reality and
enable the realization of what is real. Then again what if it is not up to humanity at all to
determine reality? What if our creator is the key to our entire existence all together. “The
Creator would know the answers to all these questions, He did speak everything and all its
complexities into existence” (Genesis 1).
References
What is reality?
Dew, J. K., & Foreman, M. W. (2014). How do we know? An introduction to epistemology.
United States: Inter-Varsity Press,US.
Plato, The Republic, Book VII, 514A1–518D8, The Allegory of the Cave
Descartes, R, (1641). Meditations on First Philosophy
Wachowski, Andy, and Lana Wachowski. The Matrix. Directed by Andy Wachowski and Lana
Wachowski. Los Angeles: Warner Bros. Pictures, 1999
