Philosophy Film

One of the goals of studying philosophy is to sharpen your critical thinking skills and learn to identify philosophical arguments, both in the world around you and in your own worldview. For this assignment, you’ll select and watch one of the films from the list below and write a work discussing the philosophical issues being addressed in that film. Your job will be to:

Identify philosophical arguments in your selected film.
Articulate your own philosophical argument related to the film’s philosophical issue.
Research online resources that add to your understanding of the issues.

Select an area of philosophy (metaphysics, epistemology, OR ethics), and then pick one of the corresponding films from the list below to use as the basis for your work I choose Epistemology to write the work on my film chosen.

Epistemology

What is belief? What is knowledge? How do we know what we know? this is the link to the movie to watch, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDzI1dJNoiI

Step 2: Identify the philosophical school & philosopher that matches the film’s answer and do research on that answer. Explain the basics of that philosophical school and how the film represents those particular philosophical ideas.

Epistemology

What is belief? What is knowledge? How do we know what we know? ( Cartesian doubt )

Step 3: Explain your answer to the philosophical question in terms of the philosophical school and philosopher that matches your answer and explain how your ideas represent that philosophical school. Put it all together, it should look something like this:

  1. Epistemology

What is belief? What is knowledge? How do we know what we know?

  1. What does the film say?

What philosopher matches?

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Sample Answer

 

 

 

The Matrix and Epistemology: A Search for Certainty in a Simulated World

The movie, “The Matrix,” dives deep into the question of knowledge and reality, making it a perfect exploration of epistemology.

What does the film say?

The film portrays a world where Neo, the protagonist, begins to question the nature of his reality. He discovers that the world he perceives might be a computer simulation, “The Matrix.” This throws his entire understanding of knowledge into question. Can he trust his senses? Can he be certain of anything he believes to be true?

 

 

 

 

Philosophical School and Philosopher:

The film aligns with the philosophical school of skepticism, particularly the ideas of René Descartes. Skepticism emphasizes doubting everything until a firm foundation for knowledge can be established. Descartes, a 17th-century philosopher, famously used the method of “methodic doubt” to question all his beliefs, even the existence of the external world. He concluded that the only thing he could be certain of was his own existence – “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am).

How the Film Represents Skepticism:

  • The Red Pill Choice: Morpheus offers Neo the red pill, a representation of the harsh truth about the Matrix. Taking the red pill symbolizes the act of confronting doubts and questioning reality.
  • Sensory Deception: The film showcases how Neo’s senses can be manipulated within the Matrix, highlighting the potential unreliability of sensory information.
  • The Search for Truth: Neo’s journey through the Matrix is a quest to uncover the truth about his reality, mirroring the skeptic’s pursuit of certain knowledge.

My Epistemological Argument:

While the film leans towards skepticism, I propose a more nuanced approach, drawing on empirical philosophy. Empiricism emphasizes sensory experience as the primary source of knowledge. In the context of the film, I would argue that:

  • Even within the Matrix, Neo’s experiences within the simulation hold a form of truth. His interactions with others and his own thoughts and feelings are real, even if the physical world is not.
  • Through experimentation and observation (e.g., Neo’s fight with Agent Smith), he can gain knowledge about the rules and limitations of the Matrix.

Conclusion:

“The Matrix” presents a compelling exploration of skepticism in a world where reality itself is uncertain. While complete certainty might be elusive, we can still strive to acquire knowledge through a combination of questioning, using our senses, and actively engaging with the world around us, even if that world turns out to be a sophisticated simulation.

 

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