Assign Wilson
I will demonstrate some understanding of the principal areas of Philosophy covered in this course. To do this, I will respond to the following questions- What these two works say about the nature of reality, what roles does the problem of appearance and reality play in these two works? Next, I will state what ethical implications I think these works may suggest, and how do the two works explore the nature of knowledge. I will also compare my “What is your Philosophy? ” survey results with the ones had completed in the first week of this class.
Afterwards, I will answer the allowing questions- How has my knowledge base grown in the areas identified during my week one discussion. What insights have gained about my beliefs related to those statements and lastly- Did my philosophy changed? The paper will end with a conclusion. Solomon and Higgins’ (2014) definition of Philosophy sums up what my understanding of philosophy has turned out to be during these past weeks of the course. In my comparison and contrast of Plat’s ‘The Allegory of the Cave” with the motion picture The Matrix, I was able to see the connection.
In Plat’s ‘ ‘The Allegory of the Cave”, here is a conversation between two men, Socrates and Glaucoma- In the conversation, Socrates is presenting his abstract interpretation of what he sees as he analyzes a picture. In the picture, there are a number of men bound to a wall, with symbols sketched into the wall. In the motion picture, The Matrix, there is also a conversation between Morpheme and Neo. They are inside a computer program. Morpheme turns on the television and shows Neo a picture of the world, as he knew it. He begins to talk about this world, and gives his interpretation of what he knows this world to be.
Then, the stricture changes to a world that appears destroyed, and Morpheme again gives his interpretation. In week four of our course, we were introduced to the topics, The nature of Reality and the nature of Truth. In ‘ ‘The Allegory of the Cave” and The Matrix, the characters are analyzing reality from the unreal and truth. The conversation between Socrates and Glaucoma is about when the unreal becomes real. Morpheme is discussing the same thing with Neo when he asks him, ‘M/hat is real’? During our discussion for week four, we read a story entitled An Occurrence at Owl Creek where we had to separate the real room the unreal.
During that time, learned about metaphysics. Metaphysics attempts to explain what reality is. Solomon and Higgins (2014), explained reality as, “The distinction between what we simply see, what appears to be the case, and the deeper picture that allows us to explain it, forces us to introduce the concept of reality’ (p. 112). In relation to the nature of reality, the two works say that reality is what we interpret it to be. For example, in the “Allegory of the Cave”, Socrates explained the picture the way he perceived it would be if the people in the painting came to life. In The Matrix, Morpheme gave his interpretation of the real world.
The role that the problem of appearance and reality play in these two works was that nothing appeared to be as it was. For example, in The Matrix, the way the real world appeared to Morpheme in reality, was not how Neo saw it to be. In the beginning of the movie, when the woman named Trinity was being attacked by the police officers, she was able to run across the walls. This did not appear to be real. Then near the ending of the movie, Neo was able to dodge bullets and even appeared to hold them in his hand. This could not be real. During my analysis of these works, did not see any ethical implications.
The way in which the two works explore the nature of knowledge is as follows. Socrates explains the interpretation of the picture based on his knowledge. For example, Glaucoma demonstrated that he had limited knowledge based on the levels Of his conversation. He saw the picture exactly as it appeared, and he agreed with everything Socrates said without offering his own opinions. Socrates on the other hand demonstrated that he possessed the gift of knowledge. His interpretation of the picture was more in-depth. During this course, I learned hat Epistemology was the theory of knowledge.
Socrates based his interpretation of the picture on his philosophical knowledge. For example, he spoke of truth when he asked the question, “Altogether then, I said such men would believe the truth to be nothing else than the shadows of the artifacts? “. In The Matrix, Morpheme also demonstrated his level of knowledge. He appeared to be all knowing (Omniscient) just like God. For example, when he met Neo for the first time, he was able to tell Neo a lot about his life. He told Neo that he knew why he was there. He was even able to read Neon’s Houghton. Morpheme knew who and what the Matrix was.
He described it as being everywhere, and that it was the “wool that was pulled over your eyes to blind you form the truth’ (Quote from The Matrix movie). In week one, I took a survey entitled ‘V’ hat is your Philosophy? ” Today, when I looked back at the results of that survey compared to the one I took again, I could say that my knowledge base has grown. From the topics that we covered in this course, I Was able to expand my knowledge of life and its meaning along with knowing who God is, and that He exists. In relation to the survey, number nine stated that “An all-powerful, all knowing, all-good God exists”.
In learning about Ultimate Reality in week three, I was able to prove that this statement is true. In week one, I found it difficult to immediately respond to statements number three and four. Number three stated “Humans have free will” and number four “All of our actions are determined by forces beyond our control”. In the latest survey I took, I still gave the same numbers for some statements that I had given in the previous survey. For example, I gave a five for number two, and a five for number seven. I still gave five for number three, but I gave a five for number four. Ad previously given that statement one. The insights I have gained about my beliefs related to those statements are as follows. I still believe that humans have free will. For example, I am able to do whatever I want to do. Of course, I realize that cannot use this statement loosely because in some countries, even though humans have free will, they are restricted by rules and laws to freely exercise their will. At first, did not believe that all of our actions were determined by forces beyond our control, now I think I can say that All of our actions are determined by forces beyond our control.
For example in this world, there are laws and policies made by government. Everything we do is based on what we know is right and wrong, otherwise known as moral ethics. We pay our taxes because it is law, and refusal to pay is punishable. We are put in prison when we commit murder, because there is a law that condemns the act of killing. Therefore, we act in accordance to the rules and regulations set out by those in authority. The function of the police is to keep peace and safety, in case we decide to break the law. Overall, believe my philosophy as changed. Now look at life and the reason for living with a different perspective.
At first, my thinking was, we were all put here on earth to live, die than go to heaven or hell. Today, I view this ideology differently. There is a reason why I am here, there is a reason for circumstances that occur in my life, and there is a reason for the hope that is in me. Philosophy has helped me understand the meaning of life and its existence. In conclusion, philosophy addresses reality, knowledge, values, reason, mind and even language. If we do not know how the many things we commonly experience re connected together, then we cannot know the source of truth.
