Machine Made Ghost Essay Example for Free

Machine Made Ghost Essay Chapter six of â€Å"The Matrix and Philosophy† provides the study of the significant contribution of philosophy applied in the film art. Jason Holt wrote his philosophical analysis regarding the movie â€Å"the Matrix† with a large consideration on its relation with the ideas from some key philosophers in history. He drew some arguments using the perspective of the fictitious characters of the screenplay while key points were given supported by mainstream schools of thought. One of the points he raised is the theory of Rene Descartes that is commonly known as the Evil Demon Hypothesis saying that all knows for sure is one thing that they exist. It says that everything can be conceived as results being determined by a demon who just wants to mess with the people. And so, as applied in the movie â€Å"the Matrix†, the only thing that cannot be denied is the fact that everyone has a thought. This is something that cannot be in an illusory form therefore, all the assumptions we have about ourselves are for real and that we are as we think we are. Holt also placed emphasis and pointed out the idea of Mind-body problem. This idea also came from Descartes. The inter relation between mind and matter was used in the story several times. For example, with the scene where Neo was put in the challenge of having the trust that he will not fall from the skyscraper. Neo fell for not believing that he can leap to the next structure. Neo fell for not controlling the matters through his mind (Irwin, W. 2002. P. 66-74). That is where the mind- body got its significance. Descartes distinguishes mind from matters as two separated substances and made them interdependent. The mind is attributed with thoughts while in the case of matter, it is attributed with spaces. Here started the mind-body problem in which the question about the nature of mind and matter were brought into consideration. How can these two distinct variables possibly correlate or influence each other or what links them and affect each other. In a way, there remained the expectation that the mind is so powerful that anyone can make the matter including the body act, move, and appear the way we think. Things cannot have anything in common, as per Descartes, for if it happened, the fundamental state of objects cannot be different. So it became a big question in Holt’s work on how mind and body will be able to interact if they have nothing in common. We can recall that there are some philosophers in modern times have different to say. They are not convinced that mind and matter are different substances. What remained convincing them is the realistic view about the mind in which the distinction between mind and the brain states was apparent. Let’s say, one of the brains most impressive powers is that it is incredibly capable of learning. The mind is reducible to natural processes that can be translated into the language of scientific thought process like math. Holt deals largely on what’s in the mind. More than the subtlety that’s in it; the approach on metaphysical aspects of the mind is the center of this study. It had been a quest to knock the way out of empirical science to analyze the nature of the mind thoroughly. One key terminology used by Holt is â€Å"Machine-made ghost† which gives the picture of a variable structured by thought, to refer to the word ghost, related to the characteristic of a machine. What does it suggest then? It shows a challenging question regarding the possibility of creating an artificial minds or artificial soul. The matter that resembles a body may refer and relate to robotics or AI as used in the movie. More likely, it is far beyond the present capability of human to make it realized but it will not change the fact that it is possible. The link between Mind and Matter doesn’t just go one way whereas the mind determines the condition and situation of the matter. We must consider the fact that nothing determines which instead it is a relationship. It can be done vice versa. This movie â€Å"the Matrix† is conceived by its creators from a materialist perspective. There is an obvious attempt to discuss and explain all phenomena including the feelings of characters from the real world setting of the movie to the characters inside the Matrix like the Oracle and the architect. Everything that they disagree, and all ideas that they embrace are based by the choices they are making as they go along. This is claimed by the Oracle in one of her conversation with Neo saying that he already made those choice that now, all he needs to do is to go along and understand why he made those choices (Wachowski, A. L. 1999). Inside matrix, they are just plain copy of their actual self but the involvements of all repressed wishes provide the best claims for the theories and ideas used by Holt. References Irwin, W. (2002) The matrix and philosophy: welcome to the desert of the real. USA: Carus Publishing Company Wachowski, A. L. (1999). The Matrix. USA: Warner Brothers Studio