The Truman Show (1998) directed by Peter Weir follows Truman Burbank, a man who has spent his life in a television set where his decisions are controlled by producer Christof. The Truman Show raises the question ‘Is the world within The Truman Show an illusion or does it have some reality?’ This is an epistemological issue as it is relating to the theory of knowledge and more specifically, the knowledge of reality. As epistemology is a branch of philosophy, this question is a philosophical issue. The philosophical positions of empiricism, rationalism, idealism and scepticism can be used to address this issue of knowledge. Truman’s perceives his world as real yet the actors in his world do not perceive it as real as they have experienced an
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Although never experienced by the prisoners, the outside world is not any less real. This example is reflective in Truman’s life, as his sensory experience deceived him of the reality, that he has been living inside a studio. Truman is the prisoner in the cave, who’s decisions and experiences are manipulated by the director. As Truman or the prisoner, one does not know that their world is an illusion. Thus, although Truman’s world is an illusion, to Truman, his world is just as real as ours. At the conclusion of The Truman Show, Truman knows that his world was an illusion yet he knows nothing about the world outside the studio. From a sceptic perspective, even when he exits the studio he will be uncertain whether that world is a reality. It is likely that he would further his scepticism to the outside world and distrust what sensory knowledge he would gain. Once it is realised that senses are deceptive it is then impossible to rely on them for fundamental truths about reality. In addition to the notion that knowledge is impossible, it is conceivable that nothing exists outside of the mind. Thus, whether his friends were genuine or actors or whether his life is manipulated is not necessary in determining his reality. If in his mind he believes what he observes, he perceives his world as real, despite it lacking physical
Although never experienced by the prisoners, the outside world is not any less real. This example is reflective in Truman’s life, as his sensory experience deceived him of the reality, that he has been living inside a studio. Truman is the prisoner in the cave, who’s decisions and experiences are manipulated by the director. As Truman or the prisoner, one does not know that their world is an illusion. Thus, although Truman’s world is an illusion, to Truman, his world is just as real as ours. At the conclusion of The Truman Show, Truman knows that his world was an illusion yet he knows nothing about the world outside the studio. From a sceptic perspective, even when he exits the studio he will be uncertain whether that world is a reality. It is likely that he would further his scepticism to the outside world and distrust what sensory knowledge he would gain. Once it is realised that senses are deceptive it is then impossible to rely on them for fundamental truths about reality. In addition to the notion that knowledge is impossible, it is conceivable that nothing exists outside of the mind. Thus, whether his friends were genuine or actors or whether his life is manipulated is not necessary in determining his reality. If in his mind he believes what he observes, he perceives his world as real, despite it lacking physical