The Matrix and Philosophy: Welcome to the Desert of the Real (Popular Culture and Philosophy (3))

The Matrix conveys the horror of a false world made of nothing but perceptions. Based on the premise that reality is a dream controlled by malevolent forces, it is one of the most overtly philosophical movies ever to come out of Hollywood. These thought-provoking essays by the same team of young philosophers who created __The Simpsons and Philosophy__ discuss different facets of the primary philosophical puzzle of The Matrix: Can we be sure the world is really there, and if not, what should we do about it? Other chapters address issues of religion, lifestyle, pop culture, the Zeitgeist, the nature of mind and matter, and the reality of fiction. Presents Essays Exploring The Philosophical Themes Of The Motion Picture The Matrix, Which Portrays A False World Created From Nothing But Perceptions. Computers, Caves, And Oracles : Neo And Socrates / William Irwin -- Skepticism, Morality, And The Matrix / Gerald J. Erion And Barry Smith -- The Matrix Possibility / David Mitsuo Nixon -- Seeing, Believing, Touching, Truth / Carolyn Korsmeyer -- The Metaphysics Of The Matrix / Jorge J.e. Gracia And Jonathan J. Sanford -- The Machine-made Ghost : Or, The Philosophy Of Mind, Matrix Style / Jason Holt -- Neo-materialism And The Death Of The Subject / Daniel Barwick -- Fate, Freedom, And Foreknowledge / Theodore Schick, Jr.-- There Is No Spoon : A Buddhist Mirror / Michael Brannigan -- The Religion Of The Matrix And The Problems Of Pluralism / Gregory Bassham -- Happiness And Cypher's Choice : Is Ignorance Bliss? / Charles L. Griswold, Jr.-- We Are (the) One! Kant Explains How To Manipulate The Matrix / James Lawler -- Notes From Underground : Nihilism And The Matrix / Thomas S. Hibbs -- Popping A Bitter Pill : Existential Authenticity In The Matrix And Nausea / Jennifer L. Mcmahon -- The Paradox Of Real Response To Neo-fiction / Sarah E. Worth -- Real Genre And Virtual Philosophy / Deborah Knight And George Mcknight -- Penetrating Keanu : New Holes, But The Same Old Shit / Cynthia Freeland -- The Matrix, Marx, And The Coppertop's Life / Martin A. Danahay And David Rieder -- The Matrix Simulation And The Postmodern Age / David Weberman -- The Matrix : Or, The Two Sides Of Perversion / Slavoj Žižek. Edited By William Irwin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Many people recognize The Matrix as a retelling of "the greatest story ever told."