Did The Matrix introduce you to Philosophy?

**RemagDiv**

Before viewing the first Matrix back in 1999, I didn't even know what philosophy was, therefore I really didn't get all the intricate meanings that the film is known for. I was still young, only around a freshman in high school when the first film was released, but since then I have really grown quite interested not only in the many meanings of the film, but also philosophy in general.

What about you?

**AqueousRei**

HS philo... College Philo 101
I remember watching it on tape the summer before freshman year during orientation. I thought it was kind of cool how some people that were in the room were completely distracted by the new atmosphere, and others because they simply didn't get it. In fact, by the time the movie was over you could count on your hands and toes who had actually watched the film, and who sat there and just saw the special efx.
But later in the fall a friend of mine was a year back still in HS and his high school philosophy teacher showed them the Film in class... I thought that was pretty cool.

**RemagDiv**

I guarantee most people who saw the Matrix saw it and loved it for its special effects and wire-fu combat (like me). It was only until Reloaded that I became a really big fan, and started to learn and study the hidden meanings in the film. I really wish I had the understanding I have now and to rewatch the films for the first time again.

**AqueousRei** · 10/06/2006 17:58:06

That's cool. I can't even count how many times I have gone back and noticed some subtle detail that is new to the viewing. The last couple times I actually sat through revolutions front to back I noticed that now I'm trying to find more things that are there, but not exactly "said" directly.

I think part of what makes it exceptional work to me, is almost like what you described... going back and seeing it again and saying well, if I knew "x" before hand then I would have noticed before etc.

Alot of sci-ficition movies have plot holes, it is now taken with a grain of salt, and I had some questions... but in the end it is all there. To then have the extra media outlets to further bring detail to the story is something that may be a typical flow of media in the future, who knows. But just like there are not many films that really need to use the bullet time effects, there are not many films whose online game will really capture the ideas of the film just by simply being an online game in itself.... there is so much potential there... anyway.

That is why I still play this game... you have the truce and MxO as the simulation inside the simulation. So it is a game that for the role players is a situation where you are responding to these philosphical propositions, your choice of organization, the way you fight and so on. It is alot better than pixie dust wizards and stuff... I just can't get into that.

**9mmfu**

No I took philosophy in college because of my interest that developed when looking into some of the asian religions.

Ghostwise

9mmfu wrote:

No I took philosophy in college.

Word. Same here except I started it in High School and carried on alongside Psychology. SMILEY

**RemagDiv**

If you don't mind me asking, what year did you take these classes in philosophy?

Heck, if I had these classes available to me in high school, I would have taken them without a doubt. I only took an intro to Philosophy in college, but I have read and learned much by just reading on my own time. I really should have thought on minoring with Philosophy, not much you can do with that in the real world, but it would have been more for fun.

Ghostwise · 10/06/2006 20:55:56

Senior year in High School I took AP Philosophy and AP Psychology for college credit. That was in......99. A year later I didn't have to take the intro courses because of the AP(advanced placement) classes. I just got to hop right into the normal ones. SMILEY

**Crieses-mxo**

it certainly introduced me to philosohy, but at the time there wasn't enough space in my school timetable to do anything about it. I've thought about finding a copy of 'Simulacra and Simulation'; does anyone know any other philosphy type books?

And to show just how serious the exam board thought the philosphy in The Matrix is, it was part of the course to watch and then write an essay on the philosophical questions raised in The Matrix.

**cloudwolf**

Hmm... no, it didnt. My interest in belief, opinions and philosophy has come from many, many different pieces of work, personal experiences and innumerable in depth discussions.

Though i'd definately say the philosphers commentary on the 10 disk box set, and thus a new look at the trilogy, is something i look up to and certainly helped develop my interests, yes.

Rolanthas

I don't really think anyone has a strict point in their life where they begin to involve in philosophy.Altough the first movie made many people around me , by that time all of us were 12 or so, to actually think about the concept of reality and purpose of their existance more than anything they had seen before.Mostly because it's a much popular type of product to include this concept.I don't think it made me suddenly think and try to grasp everything around me , but rather worked as a catalizer. I am not at least into the philosophical articles, or studies, or history of it.I believe everything we think, we analize, every conclusion we made has a philosophical value as much as the others.So simply put, an introduction was already made when we first begun to think "just what the hell does that man in white is trying to do?"

**SEPET**

You can bet it!!

The first time i watch the movie i get folgorated by the film , so i watch and watch a lot of time, and when finally i was thinking to get the whole message in the film, well somebodies tell me bout philosophy in the matrix, gnosticism in the matrix, hidden message in the matrix, so i get my spade and i start dig....

Wow i find a very deep rabbit hole............. SMILEY

**Shayel**

SEPET wrote:

You can bet it!!

The first time i watch the movie i get folgorated by the film , so i watch and watch a lot of time, and when finally i was thinking to get the whole message in the film, well somebodies tell me bout philosophy in the matrix, gnosticism in the matrix, hidden message in the matrix, so i get my spade and i start dig....
Wow i find a very deep rabbit hole.............

That is the reason for the relatively poor results of the Trilogy as a whole.

Truth is, the first time you are blown away by the visual, 2 and 3 are not as daring as a story and the visuals are already "old" as people where overwhelmed by the first one.

The Trilogy in my opinion need to be looked at repeatedly to notice the many façades of the film and more you look at it and more you ignore the action to focus on the dialogues and events that are truly, what this film is all about.

The philosophical messages for me are just inspiration for the brothers and an excuse to give something to talk bout and further the brand, good move indeed but as a Buddhist and practitioner of yoga was nothing that blown me away as far as revelation.

Mind you, I quite liked the cookies explanation as well... probably not the deepest of the messages but was also a good one.

**9mmfu**

Remag_Div wrote:

If you don't mind me asking, what year did you take these classes in philosophy?

Heck, if I had these classes available to me in high school, I would have taken them without a doubt. I only took an intro to Philosophy in college, but I have read and learned much by just reading on my own time. I really should have thought on minoring with Philosophy, not much you can do with that in the real world, but it would have been more for fun.

I took my classes in 95/96. Most of the focus of the coarses I took were on classical philosophy and logic.

**Super_Jenius**

Remag_Div wrote:

I guarantee most people who saw the Matrix saw it and loved it for its special effects and wire-fu combat (like me). It was only until Reloaded that I became a really big fan, and started to learn and study the hidden meanings in the film.

My story is pretty much the same, though I'm a bit older than you. I think the unresolved ending of Reloaded had a lot of people thinking about what would happen next (remember The Matrix within a Matrix theory?). For me, this led to deeper thoughts on the films and more of a general interest in Philosophy. Although I think of it as one big story, Reloaded may be my favorite of the trilogy because of the questions it asks, and the kick-*CENSORED* effects don't hurt either. SMILEY