I re-watched The Matrix for the first time in a while a few nights ago. It’s definitely a paradigm shifter, and it threw me into philosophy mode. If you’re not familiar with the movie, read the synopsis HERE.
Themes that got me philosophizing:
1. What is real?
The Matrix forces you to question reality. At one point, Morpheus says to Neo, “How do you define ‘real’? If you’re talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then ‘real’ is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain.”
Bringing this concept closer to home, a recent article in the Huffington Post UK states that physicists may have evidence that our universe is a computer simulation.
To quote Ab-Soul, “I don’t even know what’s real, I’m just being real.”
Another interesting insight is that many people, as children, have intuitive thoughts of reality not being as it appears on the surface. When I was a kid, I thought that maybe I was a character in someone’s elaborate storybook. My sister would entertain the possibility of her being a part of someone’s dollhouse. Young children maintain a spiritual essence of sorts, which gets lost through conditioning and “growing up.” So maybe I was on to something back in the day…
2. Entities (behind the scenes) manipulating the human race.
In The Matrix, the antagonists literally harvest humans and feed off of them for sustenance. Humans are kept blinded from the “real world” in a coma-like state. The simulated matrix acts as their perceived reality.
This is a strikingly similar concept to David Icke’s reptilian theory (first introduced in his book “The Biggest Secret”). Icke hypothesizes that fourth dimensional reptilian entities control humanity behind the scenes, creating a perceived reality, and feeding off of negative energy. Outlandish? Definitely. But you never know…
Is this swiftian satire, or hints at the truth?
Weigh the evidence for yourself and form your own, unbiased opinion.
Oh, and keep this in mind
3. Limitations
In the Matrix, Morpheus tells Neo to free his mind, and repeatedly emphasizes this point. When Neo finally does free his mind, he makes the impossible possible.
The only limitations that exist are those you place upon yourself. Once you rid yourself of limiting beliefs, you open yourself up to infinite possibility. And this is when the formerly impossible now becomes possible. Break out of the boxes you’ve put yourself in, stop repeating negative mantras, and abandon all self-imposed limitations.
Neo- “Are you saying I can dodge bullets?”
Morpheus- “No, Neo. I am saying that when you are ready, you won’t have to.”
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And, to wrap things up, I love the quote about deja vu in The Matrix. Definitely something to marinate on.
Is this applicable to the “real world” as well?
