When we fall asleep and we dream how do we distinguish if what we are seeing or imagining is real or not? How do we even know if we are imagining what we are seeing, or if what we are seeing is actuality? Based on The Matrix, humans are always in a dream-like state. The film depicts humans attached to a huge artificial intelligence system called the Matrix run by evil machines. This system controls the human mind and conveys it with virtual reality depicting life. In the film, after Morpheus awakens Neo, he tries to decipher the difference between reality and what he thought he knew about reality before. He finds it difficult to differentiate between the Matrix and reality, which leads into the philosophical issues pertaining to metaphysics
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Descartes Evil Demon argument as discussed above is depicted in the film where the evil machines are the evil demon deceiving the humans into thinking what they perceive is reality in the vat. Descartes Dream Argument “…claims that dreams and waking life can have the same content. Descartes alleges [there is] a sufficient similarity between the two experiences for dreamers to be routinely deceived into believing that they are having waking experiences while we are actually asleep and dreaming” (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy). When Neo was presented with the jump stimulation test Morpheus’ crew had a feeling that Neo may be able to pass it. Right before Morpheus jumps, he tells Neo “You’ve got to let it all go Neo, fear, doubt, disbelief. Free your mind” (The Matrix). What Morpheus meant by this is that the only way Neo can conquer the jump is if he let go of his doubts. However when Tank reminds Mouse that “No one has ever made their first jump” (The Matrix), the crew begins to doubt Neo’s ability. This shows that none of the crew members were able to pass the jump in their first try either because they all, at one point, were uncertain and believed the Matrix was reality. The dream argument is presented here. The characters’ doubts made it difficult for them to perceive the difference between being awake and being in a dream. Perception is also described in Plato’s allegory of the
Descartes Evil Demon argument as discussed above is depicted in the film where the evil machines are the evil demon deceiving the humans into thinking what they perceive is reality in the vat. Descartes Dream Argument “…claims that dreams and waking life can have the same content. Descartes alleges [there is] a sufficient similarity between the two experiences for dreamers to be routinely deceived into believing that they are having waking experiences while we are actually asleep and dreaming” (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy). When Neo was presented with the jump stimulation test Morpheus’ crew had a feeling that Neo may be able to pass it. Right before Morpheus jumps, he tells Neo “You’ve got to let it all go Neo, fear, doubt, disbelief. Free your mind” (The Matrix). What Morpheus meant by this is that the only way Neo can conquer the jump is if he let go of his doubts. However when Tank reminds Mouse that “No one has ever made their first jump” (The Matrix), the crew begins to doubt Neo’s ability. This shows that none of the crew members were able to pass the jump in their first try either because they all, at one point, were uncertain and believed the Matrix was reality. The dream argument is presented here. The characters’ doubts made it difficult for them to perceive the difference between being awake and being in a dream. Perception is also described in Plato’s allegory of the