1. Realizing the Moral Ideal of the Highest Good (3)
2 The Matrix
Realizing the Moral Ideal of the Highest Good (3)

2. Common sense 1) Common sense theory of perception
We see things outside of ourselves where they actually are
Aristotle’s theory supports this
But Aristotle also says that the sun goes around the earth

3. Scientific theory of perception
2) Modern science
The earth goes around the sun
Reality consists of invisible molecules and atoms
Perception: a process that begins with an object outside of us, e.g., a tree
Signals pass from the object through the medium of light waves
affecting the visual system of the eye, moving through electrical signals into the brain
producing an image of the outside thing inside us

4. Illusion and reality
3) Therefore, the common sense view is an illusion
We don’t directly see the thing outside of us
We directly see the image of the thing inside us, which represents the external thing
And so it would be possible to substitute artificially created electrical signals, as in The Matrix
How would we know the difference between this “virtual reality” and reality?

5. Matter and Spirit 4) What is the image that we see?
(Eliminative) materialism: it’s a material thing,
a pattern of atoms and molecules,
an event in the brain,
even though it does not look like that
Dualism: it’s qualitatively different from matter, an ideal entity
in the “mind” or spirit of the perceiver
There is a mind, a consciousness or spirit, that is not reducible to matter or the body

6. Plato was right!
5) So when we think we are directly seeing a reality outside of us
We are really in a mental space
Perceiving images of a reality
On a mental wall
 Plato’s allegory of the cave is true
How do we go from the image to reality?

7. Why did the first Matrix fail?
The first Matrix failed
Human beings rejected it
And so the Architect created a world that is like our world of 1999
Thus we implicitly, deeply choose the world we live in
We create it by the choices we make
to see ourselves as separate from each other
or as connected to each other

8. What is reality? Implicitly people create their own world
> world seemingly governed by external laws
But choice is at the basis of this appearance
We semi-consciously produce our own existence as governed by these laws
Reality: collective humanity chains itself
The duty of truth > destiny: to liberate humanity from this enslavement
I.e., the duty to create a just society: human cooperation based on truth

9. Morality and the highest good
The moral choice leads ultimately to the ideal of the Highest Good.
The good—
those who put humanity (truth) first—
should be rewarded – have their desires met.
The bad, egotistical actions (deception),
should produce suffering.
Justice: happiness only for those who deserve or merit it

10. Antinomy of Practical Reason
Can the Highest Good (“Zion”) be realized?
If not, morality is an illusion
Highest Good: keystone of morality (implicit in particular moral duties, e.g., tell, seek truth and avoid deception)
Implies a world based on truth, on sharing, cooperating between human beings
But the Highest Good seems impossible
Consider the laws of science
Consider the way our economy works

11. Evidence against the possibility of the moral world
Happiness requires having one’s needs and desires satisfied
This depends on money
Do people receive money based on their performance of duty?
i.e., are the rich the good people, and the poor the dishonest shirkers?

12. Morality and economics
Kant’s third formulation: the ends of economics should be subordinate to moral ends.
But the laws of the market are not in fact subordinated to morality
Adam Smith: economics is based on self-interest, not morality

13. Who is more rational?
What are the chances of success of the Nebuchadnezzar?
Cypher’s rational calculation of the odds
Morpheus’ belief in Neo as the Savior.
Is it right to die for what you regard as an illusion?
with lots of evidence!
Don’t we have the right to save ourselves by any means possible?

14. Cypher 1.cypher - a mathematical element that when added
to another number yields the same number
0, nought, zero, cipher
2.cypher - a quantity of no importance; "it looked like nothing I had ever seen before"; "reduced to nil all the work we had done"; "we racked up a pathetic goose egg"; "it was all for naught"; "I didn't hear zilch about it“
goose egg, nada, naught, nil, nix, nothing, null, zero, zilch, zip, zippo, aught, cipher
3.cypher - a person of no influence, nobody, nonentity, cipher
common man, common person, commoner - a person who holds no title
pip-squeak, small fry, squirt - someone who is small and insignificant
jackanapes, whippersnapper, lightweight - someone who is unimportant but cheeky and presumptuous

15. Cypher’s choice
Cypher: the forces against success (victory of Zion and the Highest Good) are too strong
He chooses survival for himself (steak) in the illusion
He will be a famous actor
And be deservedly rewarded!

16. Science and morality
If behavior is governed by deterministic scientific laws
then morality is impossible
Morality contradicts causal laws of science
But if those laws are about appearances, not reality,
then morality is possible

17. Status of causality
Kant: Causality is an a priori condition of the scientific approach to the world
Not an objective truth about the world as it is in itself
Suppose someone could really bend spoons by their free thoughts
Spoon boy: “that’s impossible”
Science: there must be a hidden physical cause
Causality is an assumption of scientific thinking

18. A priori character of causality
Kant: The search for causal explanations is an a priori condition for doing science
Whatever is there, we perceive it in terms of a priori conditions for our own experiencing.
And so science does not grasp the thing in itself
(e.g., myself as a free agent)

19. Knowledge and faith
Kant: “It is necessary to deny knowledge, in order to make room for faith.”
Faith = postulates of morality
1) Freedom
2) God
3) Immortality

20. Postulate of Freedom Science is deterministic
But applies to appearances only
What then is reality?
Morality presupposes free will
This cannot be known (science)
But we believe it is the reality behind our actions
So free will must be an object of practical faith or belief—
a necessary assumption or postulate of moral experience and practical life

21. Neo’s next choice
The Oracle: You're going to have to make a choice. In the one hand you'll have Morpheus' life and in the other hand you'll have your own. One of you is going to die. Which one will be up to you.

22. Three kinds of freedom Freedom as doing what I want to do.
But desires are caused by circumstances, education and nature. (science)
So “free” people have no free will.
“Free market” is governed by deterministic laws
Freedom as not being bound by external laws
(free will—negative freedom)
Freedom as realizing a law I give to myself
(positive freedom)

23. Postulate of God
Individual feels powerless to change the way the world works
But united humanity contains a power to change everything
Duty: way for each of us to connect with the power of our shared humanity
Kant: “the divine human within us” is the source of moral experience
And so with a power that raises us above our feeble strength as separate, isolated individuals

24. The Power of the Market
We must believe that we have the power and intelligence to realize the Highest Good.
Q: But how can we counteract the enormous power of the Market?
A: This is our own power, alienated (heteronomy)

25. Two conceptions of God
1) as an external power capable of saving humans
through a god-like Savior
2) as a power with which individuals are capable of connecting when they link to one another
“The Kingdom of God is within you.”
“The works that I do, shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do.” (John 14: 12)

26. Spoon Boy
Spoon Boy: Do not try and bend the spoon. That’s impossible. Instead only try to realize the truth.
Neo: What truth?
Spoon Boy: There is no spoon.
Neo: There is no spoon?
Spoon Boy: Then you'll see that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.

27. How move matter?
1) We have the power to move matter by acts of free thought
Example
2) But only if we do not regard this matter as external to us
It’s my body

28. Neo as Savior? Mr. Anderson: Son of Man
He’s also “doubting Thomas” (at first)
Choi: Hallelujah. You're my savior, man. My own personal Jesus Christ.
Cypher: Did he tell you why he did it? Why you're here. Jee-zus. What a mind job. So you're here to save the world. What do you say to something like that?

29. Two theories of Christianity
1) Jesus saves a sinful humanity
2) Jesus teaches us that we are all “sons of God.”
E.g., “Our Father.”
The works that I do, shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do.” (John 14: 12)

30. Neo as Teacher
Neo: “I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world without you, a world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries, a world where anything is possible.”

31. Postulate of Immortality
One life-time is too short to fulfill our duty to HG
Duty of HG: in this world
So other-worldly immortality of traditional Christianity does not help
Rather: reincarnation of Plato, Buddhism and Hinduism.
The Bodhisattva

32. Plato’s argument for the immortality of the soul
1) Eternity of Beauty, of certain truths of geometry (the theorem of Pythagoras), etc.
2) We can recognize (recollect, remember) these truths
3) So we have in us something immortal which enables us to know immortal Reality
4) I.e, the God-like element is within us, the soul.

33. Real nature of knowledge
5) To know something is to commune with that thing – to identify with it, be one with it.
I.e., real knowledge is more like love: a transcendence of separate ego identity
E.g., experience of transcendence (“losing yourself”) in creative knowledge or love.

34. NDE of the Soldier Er Er’s voyage to the Elysian Fields
Next life lottery
Odysseus’ choice
Recall teleology: what is the purpose of my existence? Why was I born to my parents?

35. Fear of death
Cypher: Did he tell you why he did it? Why you're here. Jee-zus. What a mind job. So you're here to save the world. What do you say to something like that? A little piece of advice. You see an agent, you do what we do. Run. You run your ass off.
=Fear based rule
Neo chooses to risk his life for Morpheus (following the Oracle’s prophecy)

36. Neo stops running Trinity: Run, Neo. Run! What is he doing?
Morpheus: He's beginning to believe.
= no longer afraid of death, and so free of the ultimate power of the Matrix
(But after fighting for a while, Neo runs, and is killed)

37. The power of love
Trinity: Neo, I'm not afraid anymore. The Oracle told me that I would fall in love and that that man... the man that I loved would be The One. So you see, you can't be dead. You can't be... because I love you. You hear me? I love you.
[She kisses him.]
Trinity: Now get up!

38. Neo’s three lifetimes 1) Prior to film
2) Up to his “death” in the Matrix
3) After being “resurrected” by Trinity’s love
Why “Trinity”?