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The Matrix and Philosophy: Welcome to the Desert of the Real (Popular Culture and Philosophy, 3) Paperback – August 28, 2002

by William Irwin (Editor)

4.5 123 ratings

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The Matrix conveys the horror of a false world made of nothing but perceptions. Based on the premise that reality is a dream controlled by malevolent forces, it is one of the most overtly philosophical movies ever to come out of Hollywood. These thought-provoking essays by the same team of young philosophers who created The Simpsons and Philosophy discuss different facets of the primary philosophical puzzle of The Matrix: Can we be sure the world is really there, and if not, what should we do about it? Other chapters address issues of religion, lifestyle, pop culture, the Zeitgeist, the nature of mind and matter, and the reality of fiction.

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Open Court
Publication date

August 28, 2002
Dimensions

6 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
ISBN-10

081269502X
ISBN-13

978-0812695021
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Court; First Edition (August 28, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 081269502X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0812695021
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #533,161 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #823 in Philosophy Metaphysics
- #952 in Modern Western Philosophy
- #1,047 in Movie History & Criticism

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4.5 123 ratings

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William Irwin

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William Irwin is Herve A. LeBlanc Distinguished Service Professor in the Philosophy Department at King's College, Pennsylvania. Irwin's books include Little Siddhartha (2018), God Is a Question, Not an Answer (2018), and The Meaning of Metallica (2022). He is also the author of the novel Free Dakota (2016) and The Free Market Existentialist: Capitalism without Consumerism (2015). Irwin is best known for having originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books with Seinfeld and Philosophy (1999), The Simpsons and Philosophy (2001), and The Matrix and Philosophy (2002). He was editor of these books and then General Editor of the Popular Culture and Philosophy Series through Open Court Publishing. In 2006, Irwin left Open Court to become the General Editor of The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series, which includes Metallica and Philosophy (2007) and Black Sabbath and Philosophy (2012), among other volumes.

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4.5 out of 5

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an excellent introduction to broader philosophical questions

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2014

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To even the most casual observer, there is more going on in The Matrix than mere storytelling - its release date over Easter weekend clearly hints at Judeo-Christian themes: Neo as the prophesized "One", a universal savior who returns from the dead to liberate humanity from being imprisoned in the Matrix. But there are much deeper philosophical issues explored in the film as well, as the contributors to _The Matrix and Philosophy_ illustrate. It is a wonderful journey down the rabbit hole as questions around reality, the philosophy of the mind, ethics, freewill and determinism are addressed.

For those interested in an solid introduction to philosophy (and the "big questions" philosophers from Socrates to Nozik have wrestled with), I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Were I teaching in the philosophy department, this would be my text of choice. (In fact, it was by a recommendation by a colleague in that department that I picked this up.) While the concepts are lofty, abstract and mind-bending, the authors, through pop-cultural references, connect the musings and writings of philosophers like Kant, Descartes, Hume as well as contemporary philosophers to events and plot points in the film, making these ideas both clear and accessable to lay readers.

At first I was a bit skeptical (no pun intended, and apologies to Pyrrho) of the premise of the book and its pop cultural approach to a serious discipline. I was immeadiately won over, however, by the introductory essay on Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" to Neo's discovery of what the Matrix is. The book is rich with such connections. Highly recommended.

11 people found this helpful

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George Guinness

Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2020

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Just what I expected. I am very happy with this purchase.

One person found this helpful

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Mack&Cheryl

Matrix Nerds United

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2016

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Love this type of analysis

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Fausto Sanchez

Welcome to the desert

Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2012

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It's kind of disrturbing if you are a imaginary kind of person, can't take you to mind trips you donpt need before you go to bed how ever it's a good lecture

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Kevin J. Murtagh Jr.

Excellent for Intro. to Philosophy Courses

Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2002

I use this book in the Introduction to Philosophy course that I teach. This book provides me with an "in" that I can use in order to discuss very important philosophical issues. It is often difficult to make the material "come to life", especially when teaching a required course. By using this book, it is possible to make the process much more enjoyable for students who would otherwise be disinterested. This book can be used on its own or, being that it is relatively inexpensive, it can be used as a companion piece along with a textbook. For the most part, the writing is lively and engaging. It is both accessible to Intro. students and interesting to graduate students. Anyone who has had an even cursory acquaintance with philosophical writing knows how rare that is. I believe this to be the best book in the series. I am most likely biased; I have what some might call an unhealthy obsession with the film. The other two books, Seinfeld and Philosophy and Simpsons and Philosophy, are excellent, but this book is much better for use in an intro. course for on simple reason: To understand most of the essays in the other two books, the reader will have to be familiar with the series. Seeing a few episodes will not do. With The Matrix, you can watch a two hour movie and be able to understand the references that are made in the book. A few highlights:
Ch.1: Computers, Caves, and Oracles: Neo and Socrates- Compares Plato's allegory of the cave to Neo's journey. An excellent discussion of what it means to lead an examined life and seek the truth. Excellent segue into the red pill/blue pill debate.
Ch.6: The Machine-Made Ghost: Or, The Philosophy of Mind, Matrix Style- Discusses Artificial Intelligence and the nature of the mind. The author argues against dualism and favors a materialistic view. Leads to a discussion on whether or not it would be theoretically possible for a Matrix to exist and the presuppositions that are present in the movie with regard to the nature of the mind.
Ch.8: Fate, Freedom, and Foreknowledge: A discussion of fate, freedom, omniscience and determinism. Even if they escaped the Matrix, would people really be free?
Ch.11: Happiness and Cypher's Choice: Is Ignorance Bliss?- My favorite essay in the book. What do we make of Cypher's decision to try to return to the Matrix? Is a decimated reality preferable to an artificial world where you can "eat" a juicy steak and do not have to worry about Sentinels trying to kill you? The author says that it is, and his argument is very thought-provoking.
There are other excellent essays in this book, but these happen to be my favorites. Students, teachers and those who are just interested in philosophy: You should definitely buy this excellent book.

149 people found this helpful

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Matthew McGinley (real name™)

Thought-provoking, Motivating, Entertaining

Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2009

"The Matrix and Philosophy" as edited by William Irwin is a comprehensive, detailed and thought-provoking look at philosophy in the digital age, drawing parallels between the "Matrix" motion picture and older schools of thought, religious dogmas and pragmatic approaches to the way we think and feel. There is far too much information spread out over the 276 pages and 18 chapters to absorb at one time; on the contrary, this book will be with me for many years, as every time I open to a given page, I find something I didn't see before.

Based strictly on its technical merit, it is of outstanding literary quality. Who cares if the the reader agrees or disagrees with the arguments and premises. The real genius behind "The Matrix and Philosophy" is its uncanny ability to get the reader to think beyond the ordinary, to explore deeper regions of consciousness and how the subconscious self is more conscious than we know.

3 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Looks great, materials look good

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2019

Verified Purchase

A good quality case.

Aldo

Non ancora letto...ma spettacolo per come e quando è arrivato

Reviewed in Italy on February 1, 2017

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Non ho ancora iniziato ad affrontare il libro, che deve essere esaltante ma anche complicato, ma voglio lodare il venditore: il libro è arrivato in fretta e in condizioni a dir poco perfette. Lo cercavo da anni e anni e sembrava impossibile: un miracolo che si avvera. Grandissimi!

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M. Ou Mme Calle

La philosophie enfin intéréssante

Reviewed in France on March 2, 2013

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Bravo pour cette collection qui dépoussière la philosophie et tente de la mettre entre les mains du public. Dommage qu'elle ne soit pas traduite en français !

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Trismegistus

Early repetitiveness gives way to great series of articles

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2015

Verified Purchase

Great series of pieces analysing The Matrix from various philosophical perspectives. A bit repetitive in the early chapters, but worth sticking with.

One person found this helpful

Bowman Hat

awesome

Reviewed in Italy on July 26, 2013

Verified Purchase

i hate philosophy, and i had to buy this book to make my exam thesis...i liked it because it's an analysis of a great film, and it's interesting even if it is a philosophy book

One person found this helpful

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