Canivel, Russel Ray Cuevas

February 20, 2015

1CMT
Philosophy

Film Analysis on The Matrix

Discuss the saying mentioned by Cypher in the film, ignorance is
bliss. Provide a clear stand on the matter as to whether you agree or
disagree.
They say what we dont know, cant hurt us. This is the explanation to
what Cypher said. The Matrix was the perfect imperfect simulator to the
world that was once lived by humans.
To the ones who dont know what
the Matrix is, the Matrix is a simulation of the Earth before 2199. The Earth
was destroyed and scarred by humans to prevent the uprising of the
machines or AI but they still failed in doing so because the machines took
over the surface of the Earth and breed humans while the real humans
stay at the center of the Earth, where it is still warm. The AI created a
simulation of the Earth back to its former glory but, again, this is only a
simulation hence not real.
The Matrix is the closest thing to reality. This is proven true by the
people who are unplugged from the Matrix and have experienced the
current situation of the Earth. Some of the people wanted to be plugged
again in the Matrix but that is not enough. By realizing the truth, every time
theyre plugged in, the truth has spoiled them from having a normal life in
the Matrix since they will always know that whatever they see and whoever
they meet, is just an imperfect code or program and although everything in
the Matrix is the closest thing to reality, it is nowhere near the real thing.
Do you think the real taste of chicken taste the same in the Matrix? Do you
think the sweet smell of roses smell the same in the Matrix? Matrix is the
only thing we have next to the reality but it is nowhere close to the real
thing.
I agree that ignorance is a bliss. As I said before, what I dont know,
wont hurt me. If somebody told me that my favorite restaurant is dirty and
the burgers they serve has worm fillings instead of 100% pure beef, they
ruined the restaurant for me that every time I eat there I could only think of
that what Ill be eating then is not beef but worms. Sometimes we have
enough problems to deal with that sometimes not knowing or encountering
more problems somehow help us because the stress of the work wont be
that great. If Adam and Eve didnt know that the fruit in the tree of
knowledge is forbidden, then they wont be banished from the Garden of
Eden but only be warned not to eat from it again. Knowledge is both a

blessing and a curse. What if you knew that you wife for 16 years cheated
on you on your 9th anniversary but remained faithful to you for remaining
years? Would regret knowing this and somehow wish you can unknow this
fact? Let me end my answer with a quote from Ernest Hemingway,
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

Analyze the intricate, often dangerous, process of unplugging the

person from the Matrix. Provide the reasons why the process is
difficult.
Since the Earth was destroyed and it look more like a giant cave in
the perspective of the humans, the Matrix is the closest replica of the Earth
we once had. Imagine someone spending their whole life in the Matrix. His
truth and actuality are the shadows and imperfect imitations of the reality.
They spent their whole life living in a world where everything and everyone
they meet are false. If you would unplugged a person from the Matrix who
is not ready to unplugged, he wouldnt accept the truth that he spent most
of his life playing a virtual reality rather than really living but he would
rather accept in playing the virtual reality. In the Matrix, life is a bliss. You
can taste food that you cant taste in Zion, you can feel the fresh air which
is not present in Zion since its in the core of the earth. The unplugged man
would rather accept death than accept truth. Since he is unplugged, every
time he would try to use the Matrix, he is spoiled by the truth and he cant
stay in the Matrix for so long because now he is unplugged, he needs the
nutrients of the real world like food, water and rest. He cant go back in the
fate-ruled Matrix and live in the true reality not govern by the illusions of
choice unlike in the Matrix. When a person cant handle the truth, he would
pray to forget what he knew because he loved the lie so much that it
became his truth. But when the truth is said, it cant forgotten but should be
accepted. The process of unplugging is dangerous because not everyone
can live by the truth or the reality after spending their whole lives in the
shadows of reality.

Comment on the film in general and what philosophical principles

and norms on man can deduced from it
The Matrix was a great trilogy. I watched it from The Matrix up to the
The Matrix Revolutions. It is a very interesting film because the concept of
the virtual reality to compensate the destruction of Earth was pretty new to
at that time. I was also pretty amazed how the special effects were designed
in the film because it was almost 16 years ago and the special effects looked
amazing. I also like the idea of superhuman abilities like increased strength,
increased agility, able to learn martial arts and kung fu in seconds, and
flight just because they could manipulate the virtual world. What I liked the

most in this trilogy is the philosophical and norms on man that is present in
the movie.
The idea of the Matrix and the real world is similar to the Allegory of
the Cave by Plato. Both the Cave and the Matrix is good example of
subjective reality. Both the people in the cave and in the Matrix thinks that
the false world that they live in is solid and real. They think that the world
that they live in is reality itself. For the people in the Matrix, the Matrix is
their reality and their whole world, but for those who are unplugged, Matrix
is only a programmed virtual reality designed to entertain humans until
theyre ready for harvest. For them, reality is subjective.
Cypher wanting to go back to the Matrix is an example of the power of
pleasure. Since the whole world was destroyed, everything is limited and
man-made. Every day is a struggle to survive physically, emotionally and
mentally. To live just to survive is sometimes enough for an ordinary human
being to give up on life. Pleasure sometimes keeps the insane ones, sane.
The Matrix is the only place where pleasure exist and where life is extinct.
To choose the Matrix over the real world is like choosing that you would
rather be in a deep sleep or in a comma than to face the reality and struggle
of life. Going back to the Matrix is the cowards way out and Cyphers
decision to go back to the Matrix where everythings a bliss shows how
strong the power of pleasure is.
The Matrix is a good eye-opener to the people who desire progress.
Some people desire progress and in doing so, they deforested forests,
polluted lakes and make the air unbreathable. In the Matrix, the humans
are the one who destroyed the Earth because of the advancement in
technology they made like the AI. Their actions might not be felt today but it
already caused a ripple effect and it will eventually lead to disasters.