A Comparison of Themes in The Matrix and Allegory of the Cave

A Comparison of Themes in The Matrix and Allegory of the Cave One of the major themes that is noticeable in the Matrix is â€Å"being as such†. When considering the Matrix, Neo lives in complete delusion, a prisoner of artificial intelligence with no real control or perception of reality. He believes he is living in the city, enjoying hot weather when in reality his brain is in a body being tracked and controlled by machines thousands of years later than the time he thinks he exists. The plotline can be directly referenced to the old philosophical argument â€Å"Brain in a vat†. This argument simply asserts that if scientists were to insert a brain into a jar, and add stimulating chemicals that cause the brain to function as normal, the brain and its thoughts would exist and flourish as if it were in a body. The brain could have experiences, relationships, and form normal the normal scenarios of living in a body which ignites the question: What is reality? The brain will be the brain (being as such), it is not more complex than simply â€Å"being†. I relate this concept to the phrase â€Å"believing is not seeing â€Å" as what we percieve and believe is all that exists is not always the true reality of what actually exists. In Plato’s Allegory of the cave, this concept is addressed in a unique manner. The men that have been imprisoned in the cave do not know of the world outside of the cave. They know that they exist, and they can see only what is infront of them. As â€Å"shadows† pass by them in their travels from behind as well as infront of them they hear their voices yet they cannot differentiate or even understand that the voices are actually coming from behind them as well, rather than just the figures that are visible. They are not able to imagine or aknowledge what they do not knows exist as they are conditioned to focus on the present: â€Å"And suppose their prison had an echo from the wall facing them? When one of the people crossing behind them spoke, they could only suppose that the sound came from the shadow passing before their eyes. No doubt† (Plato 9) He also mentions the fire that burns behind them, which emits the light that the prisoners are naturally conditioned to. They have not seen brighter light before, and dont even consider its existence. It would difficult to aknowledge that their perception was so blurred to the actual reality of life if someone were to tell them. Plato proves this when he mentions that if the prisoners were to be unchained and forced to turn around and experience the intensity of the true light of the fire, it would cause them pain and perplexion and dilute their understanding of what is real; although it is right infront of their eyes: â€Å"He would need, then, to grow accustomed before he could see things in that upper world† (Plato). The prisoner is more inclined to return to the way he faced before as what is natural easier to distinguish for him. Another metaphysical theme in both the Matrix and in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is wisdom. Wisdom is built through knowledge and experience. I remember that I am here not because of the path that lies before me but because of the path that lies behind me†(Morpheus in The Matrix Reloaded) When Neo sees the world for the first time in the Matrix, it is difficult for him to believe as well as percieve. Everything that he thought was reality was no longer relevant to actuality. He uses his own experience and the knowledge he gained from it to wake up the rest of humanity from the dream they are percieving as their reality. This theme in the matrix forms a direct analogy to the wisdom displayed in Platos allegory of the Cave when the prisoner is released from the cave and is blinded by the sun upon leaving. The light is so much stronger and larger than the only light that he ever knew to exist that his eyes physically could not handle it, causing him to be temorarily blinded. He must adjust and experience the light in order to observe the rest of the world that it illimunates. Once his eyes adjust, he immediately wants to return to the cave to tell the others about reality just as Neo did in the Matrix. Overall, comparing both of these storires sheds a brilliant light upon what is reality and really influences me to stay â€Å"present†. What struck me the most is the â€Å"Brain in a Vat† concept in the matrix as well as in Platos Allegory of the Cave. Much exists beyond what we can see as well as imagine, and to understand what exists beyond we must develop wisdom using our experience as well as our intelligence.

Justifying the Japanese Internment Camps Term Paper

Justifying the Japanese Internment Camps - Term Paper Example This led to the decision of all the Japanese immigrants being relocated to internment camps. This move by the USA was justifiable, as it would help curb any violent acts from Japan, and enhance safety in USA. However, this was also considered as a prejudice toward Asians, since the same sanctions were not taken against immigrants of other rivals such as Germany, and therefore, this is unjustifiable (Welgny 23). This paper will use literature review to address this issue from two points of view, before taking a stand in the conclusion. The Japanese immigrants were put in internment camps not because they were guilty of crime, but because their country had become one of the USA’s enemies during the period of the Second World War. The USA therefore, considered these Japanese people in America as a threat to its national security. During this period, most Japanese people in America had occupied the area in the west coast of America. They worked hard to sustain their families. They had bought land, gotten an education, and had become citizens of America, who participated in voting during American elections. Problems rose after their country of origin attacked the USA. This had their land taken away from them, and them sent to internment camps, to avoid further attacks in the USA from Japan. ... In this order, there were the instructions about relocating close to 1110,000 American Japanese people to the ten internment camps that were available. When the Japanese were taken to the internment camps, they lost their rights as American citizens, as most of them were legally settled in America. This also separated them from the things and people they loved. The camps were fenced, with block arrangements inside. In each block, there were more than ten barracks, a recreational hall, and one mess hall. This also included car storage and repair area, canteens, hospitals, schools, a post office, a library, among others (Welgny 47). Apart from being alienated from the wider society, the Japanese Americans were exposed to many hardships in the internment camps. Since most of the camps were located in desert places, the Japanese people had difficulties dealing with the extreme unbearable temperatures in the camps. For instance, during summer periods, the temperatures could reach 100 degr ees and more. On the other hand, winter periods had extremely low temperatures, going as low as negative 30 degrees in some of the camps. Meals in these camps were served in meager portions. Most of the food was grown in the camps, including vegetables and fruits. In addition, the people bred livestock in the camps, which was also a source of food. Due to insufficient provision of healthcare in the camps, most Japanese people died when they got sick. The psychological stress that most of them were experiencing also contributed to the deaths of Japanese people in the camps. Aggressive military guards sometimes harassed the people, killing those who showed signs of resistance to their orders (Heinrichs 31).

Early Spanish And Early English Colonization In America Essay - 1

Early Spanish And Early English Colonization In America - Essay Example At the time New Mexico established, it collapsed because of inadequate wealth. In the New England, separatists and Puritans constituted the population. Following the dissent and reformation of England, the people of England stated to arrive in the new America for the reasons of religion. New England colonies were made up of mostly Catholics and Puritans who banked their hope on putting their beliefs in practice with no interference from church hierarchy or England. The colonial extension under Castile’s crown was instigated by Spanish conquerors and grown by Spanish monarchy through its missionaries and administrators. The motivation for the expansion of colonies was increased Christianity faith and trade through local conversations. This took a period of over 400 years from the year 1492 to the year 1898. To start with is the arrival of Columbus in the year 1942, over 4 centuries the empire of the Spaniards would extend across: in the present day in most Central America, Mexico, and Caribbean island; most of American North that include Southern coastal, Southwestern, California part of United States; and although not active, with territory claimed presently British Columbia; and states of Oregon, Washington and Alaska; and South America. At the start of 19th C, the movements on revolution ended up in the independence of many American Spanish colonies, with exception of Puerto Rico and Cuba, released in the year 1898 subsequent to the wa r waged by Spain against the Americans, together with Philippines and Guam in Pacific. The political loss of the last territories by Spain brought an end to the Spanish colonization (Kathy, pp 64) The settlements of the Spanish in the South West of America and English colonies in the New England in the 17th C may be contrasted in basically two ways. To start with, their political patterns were based entirely on different government systems and classes of the ruling.