Socratic Platonic concepts in The Matrix

The plot of the movie The Matrix can be construed in various ways a highlighting characteristic is certainly philosophy.

The Matrix poses a question to the viewer as to what is reality. Is the Matrix actually a program generated by the computer Is Zion free If so, who is not free The most astounding part of the movie is when Thomas Anderson is unplugged from the matrix, meaning set free from the matrix. Unexpectedly, once he is unplugged, the perception of reality is changed. He is then told that all he ever alleged in is no longer present in reality it was just a delusion.

This underlying theme of reality is evident in studies by Socrates and Plato, such as the the cave. Comparable instances in the film and philosophical thoughts include the release of Neo from the Matrix and moved into the world of reality. This is evident in most part of Socrates studies as his question raised to humanity is what is real.

Thus the allegory of cave can also be termed as the allegory of Matrix. Platos teachings identify that what we believe to be true may be real mostly but sometimes also tends to be unrealistic. For example, in the movie The Matrix, Neos faith in reality is devastated when he swallows the red pill and his beliefs are refreshed. A prime instance of philosophy that can be seen in the movie is when Morpheus poses a question to Neos faith Do you believe thats air that you are inhaling. This is similar to what Socrates said when he discussed ideas in philosophy.

Plato, in The Republic, sets an illusionary world in form of the allegory of the cave. Platos imagination says that humans have been imprisoned in a cave since their birth. They cannot look in any  direction except they can only look straight, not behind them or to the side. On the wall  there are shadows of people, trees, and animals. For them this is the real world and one day he escapes this unreal world and realized what the world in reality is. Though difficult in adjusting to this reality, when he finally does, he returns and tells other people about it. This is a metaphor of reality where the person tends to break his barriers and perceive reality for the first time.

We can see Neo pulling himself out of a similar cave in the first Matrix film. When unplugged he realizes that The Matrix was an illusionary creation and that all humans around him should be told about this reality.

Since the very start of the movie we see the relationship between Morpheus and Neo to be a depiction of relation between Socrates and Plato. Morpheus is the teacher like Socrates, and Neo is the student like Plato. Morpheus is responsible for Neos learning of going in and out of the cave and it is Morpheus who relates to Neo that The Matrix is a process which combines all the human beings who want to live in it. Once Neo is completely aware of the concept of cave he decides that he wants to escape the cave. When ultimately Neo experiences the recurring defiance of being free from the cave, he soon understands that he cannot return.

Consequently, Morpheus connects Neo in instructional coaching of how to battle against theoretical thoughts, and insight. Furthermore Neo learns that our mind controls our suspicions. Once we let the rival of fright to take over our mental capabilities, the trepidation will always promote conditions towards being the worst.

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