WHY IS LIVING IN THE MATRIX SO BAD?
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-THREAD-
- The movie The Matrix supports a natural, basic thinking.
- This is because there is something negative about being within the Matrix.
- That is, those inside the Matrix are worse off than individuals outside of it in a significant way.
- This is because there is something negative about being within the Matrix.
- That is, those inside the Matrix are worse off than individuals outside of it in a significant way.
- Of course, most individuals within the Matrix are unaware that they are in a poor situation.
- They mistakenly assume they are in a favourable situation.
- Despite this, they are nonetheless worse off than others who are truly fortunate.
- They mistakenly assume they are in a favourable situation.
- Despite this, they are nonetheless worse off than others who are truly fortunate.
- As I already stated, this is a natural and easy notion.
- When we examine closer, this normal, straightforward concept becomes quite difficult and ambiguous.
- A slew of questions arise.
- When we examine closer, this normal, straightforward concept becomes quite difficult and ambiguous.
- A slew of questions arise.
β’ First, who is intended to be harmed by the Matrix?
- Is living within the Matrix simply awful for persons who have lived outside, such as Trinity and Neo?
- Is living within the Matrix simply awful for persons who have lived outside, such as Trinity and Neo?
- Is it also awful for all the everyday Joes who have never ventured outdoors and have no idea that their current lifestyles are full of deception?
- The film appears to imply that there is something wrong with life in the Matrix, even for these everyday Joes.
- The film appears to imply that there is something wrong with life in the Matrix, even for these everyday Joes.
- It may be tough to confront the harsh reality beyond the Matrix, but the film presents this as a worthwhile decision.
- It makes the spectator sympathise with Neo's decision to swallow the red pill.
- Cypher, who decides to re-enter the Matrix, is not presented kindly.
- It makes the spectator sympathise with Neo's decision to swallow the red pill.
- Cypher, who decides to re-enter the Matrix, is not presented kindly.
- And, by the conclusion of the film, Neo appears to be on a crusade to release more individuals from the Matrix.
β’ What are your thoughts?
- Would you use your power to release people from the Matrix if you had it?
- We may presume that these people's minds are "ready," meaning that they can be pulled from the Matrix without going mad.
- Would you use your power to release people from the Matrix if you had it?
- We may presume that these people's minds are "ready," meaning that they can be pulled from the Matrix without going mad.
β’ But imagine they didn't have the choice of returning after they were liberated.
- Do you believe they would be better off outside?
- Would you let them go?
- Do you think they'd appreciate it?
- Or do you support Cypher?
- Do you believe they would be better off outside?
- Would you let them go?
- Do you think they'd appreciate it?
- Or do you support Cypher?
- Do you believe living within the Matrix isn't all that horrible, especially if you don't have the knowledge that it's all a machine-managed construct?
β’ Does it matter who controls the Matrix, and why?
- The machines in the film utilise the Matrix to keep humans docile so that they may exploit us as a source of energy.
- We are, in effect, their cattle.
- But what if we weren't fighting machines?
- The machines in the film utilise the Matrix to keep humans docile so that they may exploit us as a source of energy.
- We are, in effect, their cattle.
- But what if we weren't fighting machines?
- What if the computers' intentions were entirely benign and philanthropic?
- What if they built the Matrix because they believed our lives would be easier in that virtual environment than in the harsher actual one?
- What if they built the Matrix because they believed our lives would be easier in that virtual environment than in the harsher actual one?
- What if we fought the robots, took over the Matrix equipment, and then opted to re-enter because life within was more enjoyable?
- Would these distinctions affect your opinion of life within the Matrix as being bad?
- Or to how horrible you think it is?
- Would these distinctions affect your opinion of life within the Matrix as being bad?
- Or to how horrible you think it is?
β’ The negative aspects of life in the Matrix revolve around human relationships.
- Interactions with other people are something we place a high importance on in life.
- The majority of us want our friends' emotions to be real.
- Interactions with other people are something we place a high importance on in life.
- The majority of us want our friends' emotions to be real.
- It would be horrible, for example, if the person who seems to be your best friend actually despises you.
- Even if you were unaware of it.
- Most of us want the individuals who are important to us to be genuine.
- We don't want them to be like Mouse's "Woman in Red."
- Even if you were unaware of it.
- Most of us want the individuals who are important to us to be genuine.
- We don't want them to be like Mouse's "Woman in Red."
β’ Perhaps programming structures are sufficient for certain folks.
- They may not care whether their loved ones have an inner life, their own ideas + emotions, and true feelings for them.
- It would suffice if their friends and lovers played their parts effectively.
- They may not care whether their loved ones have an inner life, their own ideas + emotions, and true feelings for them.
- It would suffice if their friends and lovers played their parts effectively.
- However, I believe that for the majority of us, this would be insufficient.
- The majority of us would want to have the actual thing.
- The majority of us would want to have the actual thing.
- It would be terrible if the children you invest so much love and care to were actually merely pieces of a computer programme with no ability to profit from or appreciate your efforts.
β’ Humans in the Matrix are all slaves in the film.
- They don't have control over their own life.
- They may be comfortable slaves who are unconscious of their chains, but they are still slaves.
- They have virtually little control over their own destinies.
- They don't have control over their own life.
- They may be comfortable slaves who are unconscious of their chains, but they are still slaves.
- They have virtually little control over their own destinies.
β’ As Morpheus puts it:
What is the Matrix? Control. The Matrix is a computer-generated dream world, built to keep us under controlβ¦
What is the Matrix? Control. The Matrix is a computer-generated dream world, built to keep us under controlβ¦
- The most worrisome aspect of this, in my opinion, is not that the machines are farming people for energy.
- We are not given enough information about how energy farming works to make it appear particularly horrible.
- We are not given enough information about how energy farming works to make it appear particularly horrible.
- Perhaps the machines are just sucking energy from us that we weren't using anyhow.
- Perhaps the machines guarantee that, with the exception of the few times when an Agent takes control of your body and kills it, we live longer and healthier lives in the Matrix energy-farm than we would in the wild.
β’ What appears to be the worst aspect of our captivity in the Matrix is that our adversaries have so much power over what happens to us.
- Assume we found that our government was being ruled by a covert Nazi organisation. Wouldn't it be terrible?
- Assume we found that our government was being ruled by a covert Nazi organisation. Wouldn't it be terrible?
β’ Assume they are not actively causing damage.
- Assume that, for the most part, they will maintain the government working in ways that we want.
- Many of us would still be opposed to it. We'd be outraged if those old Nazis had so much authority over us.
- Assume that, for the most part, they will maintain the government working in ways that we want.
- Many of us would still be opposed to it. We'd be outraged if those old Nazis had so much authority over us.
- Likewise, the machines in the Matrix are our adversaries.
- They now have enormous power over us.
- They will govern our lives in ways we prefer as long as it serves their goals.
- They now have enormous power over us.
- They will govern our lives in ways we prefer as long as it serves their goals.
- However, many of us will be troubled by their level of control over us.
- We want to be able to shape our own destiny.
- We want to be able to shape our own destiny.
β’ So it appears that the machines rule our fortunes and society.
- We place a high importance on being able to direct our own lives rather than being someone else's slave or plaything.
- We want to be politically independent.
- We place a high importance on being able to direct our own lives rather than being someone else's slave or plaything.
- We want to be politically independent.
- And it's possible that what people understand by "political freedom" and "control over our own lives" are the same within and outside the Matrix.
- We want the real thing.
- Something the Matrix within does not provide.
- We want the real thing.
- Something the Matrix within does not provide.
β’ So, I believe this is the best explanation for why life in the Matrix is so horrible.
β’ Relatable to the real world right?
β’ Relatable to the real world right?
β’ The Matrix poses a slew of intriguing philosophical and epistemological questions.
- Those topics will be intellectually intriguing if you have a philosophical inclination, as I do.
- Those topics will be intellectually intriguing if you have a philosophical inclination, as I do.
- But there is a distinction between what we find intellectually engaging and what we value most in life. Intellectual topics will be just one among many values.
- The worst thing about living in the Matrix for most of us would not be something metaphysical or epistemological.
- The worst thing about living in the Matrix for most of us would not be something metaphysical or epistemological.
β’ The worst-case scenario would be something political.
β’ The reality that life in the Matrix is a form of slavery.
β’ That, I believe, is the most detrimental aspect of life in the Matrix shown in the film.
β’ The reality that life in the Matrix is a form of slavery.
β’ That, I believe, is the most detrimental aspect of life in the Matrix shown in the film.
β’ That is what drives Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity to battle the machines and free as many people as they can.
β’If the Matrix wasn't a kind of servitude and still required interaction with other human people, it may not be so horrible after all.
β’If the Matrix wasn't a kind of servitude and still required interaction with other human people, it may not be so horrible after all.
That's a wrap!
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