Life compared to the Matrix?

Question

Who here realizes that The Matrix is, although fictional, true to an extent, at least conceptually? I mean, basically life is not as it seems. Everyone has a different point of view. I could be thinking that Im typing a question but in reality you could all be asleep and i could suddenly wake up and realize i was dreaming. Some are blinded into seeing that the world is innocent and harmless, some see it as how it really is. Such as government officials who actually know; they hid Area 51, what else could they be hiding? What if the United States and Russia are still face to face, nukes ready at the push of a button and we were just told the Cold War ended to soothe our consciences?

These pretend cases arent limited to government cover-ups. And of course, the chances of these scenarios actually being true are well under .0000000001%, but these are just examples of the differences between what could be true and what we are told, or what we believe just because we want to.

Have you ever thought about that?

And I know I will get alot of negative feedback from this so for the dimwits out there who get an energetic, triumphant high from making sassy, smart-A insults to other people, go prank call somebody or watch American Idol or something, you dont belong in the philosophy section.

Answer 1

Ignoring the empirical Philosophy 101 question ("Am I dreaming?"), there's some real substance in your question.  Taken to the extreme and applied to one's everyday environment, taking 'The Matrix' as a literal possibility can be catastrophic, as seen at Columbine.

But as an allegory, there are some real parallels and evidence that as you suggest, much of what we call "Reality" is in fact a calculated illusion created by interested third parties.  Look at the way that Italy's Red Brigades' seemingly outlandish claims of government/Church/industry conspiracy were proved to be true with the revelation of the existence of 'P2' and the Banco Ambrosiano scandal of the '80s (so graphically sketched at the end of Coppola's "Godfather III").

Today's period of history is not the first, by any means, where generalized institutional and philosophical corruption has threatened the fabric of society.  The French Revolution. Fascism in Europe.  The fall of Rome.  In some ways, there is hope in that.  Look at Yeats' great poem from almost 100 years ago, 'The Second Coming':

"The best lack all conviction

While the worst are filled with passionate intensity.

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world

And everywhere, the ceremony of innocence is drowned."

The world came back from that brink to flourish again, and it's very possible that what we are all experiencing is a natural, if distressing natural cycle.  The danger lies in remaining passive to the threat -- or worse (as you describe) braying like donkeys at those who express their discomfort and concern. Or, of course, choosing anarchy as a "solution".

Answer 2

I don't really do conspriacy theories.