Descart Case

Descartes had an idea of a perfect entity; a substance that was infinite, independent, supremely intelligent, supremely powerful, in which created he, himself, and everything else. It was an idea he always had. Descartes knew that the idea could have not originated from him because he himself was imperfect and did not possess the qualities of a perfect entity. The idea had to come from someone who was a perfect entity. That someone is God.

Neo and Descartes both have faith. Descartes believes and has faith in God's perfect entity. If he didn't have faith in God, he would not use it as his certainty of reality. Neo has faith in himself and that he could save Morpheus. Although he has no proof, he "believes" and that is why he "must go."

Neo also relates to theories of Plato. The nature of knowledge for Plato is: If you want to know what it is to be a human being you have to abstract and look behind. This realization is the beginning of learning. What really exists are the forms behind the multiplicity of objects. These forms are truly existing forms.

In the Allegory of the Cave, Plato compares the Theory of Forms to prisoners chained in a cave. These prisoners are unable to turn their heads, enabling them to only see the wall in front of them. Behind the prisoners is a fire. In front of the fire are puppeteers. These puppeteers, who are behind the prisoners, control puppets that display shadows on the wall of the cave. The prisoners are unable to see the puppets, the real objects, that are behind them. The prisoners are only able to hear and see the shadows and echoes created by the puppeteers.

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The Allegory of the Cave is the allegory of the human condition and the search for knowledge. The cave represents our state of ignorance and opinion. Once the prisoners are released, they are able to see reality, not shadows. These prisoners face a difficulty of making the connection between the shadows and the truly existing forms. Plato believes that if we educate our soul then and only then you'll become who you already are.

"The Matrix," can be compared to the Allegory of the Cave in numerous of ways. The prisoners of the cave are in the same predicament as the humans trapped in the matrix. The matrix symbolizes the cave in the Allegory of the Cave. The humans' and the prisoners' vision is controlled by another source. The "puppeteers" of The Matrix are the agents. They are fooled into thinking that what they hear and see is "reality." They do not realize their senses are deceiving them, according to Descartes. While the prisoners are being tricked by the false reality, the puppeteers are as well because they are living inside the fake world they have created.

Neo and the prisoners are walking the same path of the learning process; making the connection between their false reality and the truth.