Comparing Plato, Descartes, And The Matrix

The similarities between Plato, Descartes, and The Matrix are fairly straightforward. The basic premise of all three works is that the world first perceived is not the true world. It is later revealed to the viewer, and radically changes the perception of the first view. All three of the works focus on the unreliability of man’s senses. All three of them hone in on man’s unawareness of a greater world. They all show the skepticism evident in the individuals believes, and the curiosity to see something more. In Plato’s The Republic, the individual is held captive and sees only shadows of the world above. When the prisoner frees himself from his fetters he beholds a grander world than the one he is used to and is forced to reevaluate his views.

In Plato’s Cave the world is created by fire and shadows, while in Descartes’ piece it is created by demons, and in The Matrix it is created by a super computer. Descartes and The Matrix are the closest in this aspect; they are created on purpose by another being. In Plato’s Cave the world that the individual perceives is created almost by accident by people walking on a road between the wall in front of the individual and a fire. The shadows are not an intentional effect, and are not important to the main antagonist. One of the other main differences is exactly how the individual is freed. In Plato’s Cave the protagonist frees himself, and likewise in Descartes’ Mediation I. In The Matrix however, the protagonist is freed by a third party, separate from the original world he knew. In this manner it gives the story much more emotional depth, due to the change being completely out of the control of the individual and instead places the event in the hands of a “higher power.” In conclusion, some of the biggest differences between the three works arise from the identity and intent of the antagonist, and the method of