010 plato matrix huxley

8/10/2019 010 Plato Matrix Huxley

1/37

1

The Happy SlaveThe Matrix

HuxleyPlato


2/37

2

4 Themes

Illusion Our consciousness is distorted What we know, believe, desire

Intent Illusions are intentional Critique

We can detect illusion and its origins

Freedom A world with less (no?) illusion

Themes are present in all 3 works


3/37

3

Th e Matr ix


4/37

4

The Situation

Recent Tech grad has enviable position insoftware conglomerate High income Excellent career prospects Nice cubicle office

But: Something isnt right A splinter in his mind


5/37

5

Enlightenment

Outsiders target him Agents of enlightenment

(problematic in itself)

Give him an option He decides of his own will

Technology of enlightenment A pill ( Alice in Wonderland , Timothy Leary)

The Truth is revealed


6/37

6

The Truth

Everything is an illusion The Matrix Conscious system of illusion

And control And exploitation

It is a creation of other beings Robots with AI

Reality The desert of the real A grim place


7/37

7

Action Plan

Program of violence at the system terrorists Lots of fight scenes

Unclear what the solution is We see the problem What do we do about it?


8/37

8

B rave New Wo rld

Aldous Huxley, 1932


9/37

9

New Totalitarianism

Rapid technological change leads todisorder

Solution is greater governmental control Totalitarianism

But: The old totalitarianism is inefficient Famine, firing squad, slavery Doesnt work


10/37

10

The New Totalitarianism Enroll people in their own slavery

No more coercion Instead: enthusiam, willingness

Happy slaves

People love their servitude false freedom?

Requires a revolution in human technology Influence what people

Know Believe Desire

3 techniques


11/37

11

1. The Old Techniques

Ministries of Propaganda Newspaper editors

Teachers Religion


12/37

12

2. Strategic Silence

Make some things disappear History Alternative opinions

A single reality Overbearingly real With no known alternatives iron curtain


13/37

13

3. New Techniques

Make people actively love servitude the problem of happiness

Improved techniques of suggestion

Education, marketing Science of human differences

Match skills to job position (division of labor) Pleasure breaks

Escape the system without harming the system Drugs Free sex


14/37

14

A lleg o ry o f the Cave

Plato

400 BC(2,400 years ago)


15/37

15

Society As a Cave

Forcible chained Prisoners

From childhood on

No known alternative Shown shadows on a wall

Images vs. reality Prisoner is forcibly liberated

Reluctantly dragged Forced into the presence of the sun Action by an agent of enlightenment


16/37

16


17/37

17

Experience of Enlightenment:Becoming a Philosopher

Not able to see Blinded by the sun Feels pain

Slowly grows accustomed Can see the sun (truth) Is now a philospher

Feels pity for his former co-prisoners

Returns to the cave To help

(Oops!)


18/37

18

Society Persecutes the Philosopher

Science of shadows Philosopher does not excel Seems ignorant

Honors & ambitions Philosopher is indifferent Seems indolent

Judgment A fool

A criminal Rightfully put to death

Socrates


19/37

19

Reform Program

Train philosophers from childhood They see the light from the beginning

The cave still exists

For most people But philosophers are apart But: dont let them stay apart

They must descend to the cave

Make them the rulers They are above petty ambition Love of truth is more powerful


20/37

20

Themes


21/37

21

1. Illusion The Matrix

A dream so real that you cant tell it is a dream a prison for your mind You are a slave, Neo

Brave New World Slaves must love their servitude False happiness

The Cave Seeing a world of shadows Believing it is real Chained in place, unable to move their heads


22/37

22

2. Intent

The Matrix A power source for machines The desert of the real

Brave New World

The Cave

Puppeteers The people ( demos)

Enlightened person becomes enemy of the people


23/37

23

3. Critique The Matrix

you know something you cant explain you feelit

like a splinter in your mind driving you mad

You cant be told; you have to see it for yourself Take a pill

Brave New World

The Cave Escape: from the chains Courage: blinding light Truth is outside


24/37

24

4. Freedom

The Matrix Violence

Brave New World

The Cave The state embodies truth

Philosopher king Commitment to entire society

Not just self-interest


25/37

25

Themesin the Readings


26/37

26

Core Theme:Consciousness is Problematic

We believe the mind to be un- problematic Transparent Neutral

Claim: it is not so Contains bias, error, irrationality


27/37

27

Free will

Exists as potential People are free

Make choices

Determine their own lives Consciousness is prior to free will

deal with the world as you know it act consistently with your beliefs pursue your interests

Free will is compromised by false consciousness


28/37

28

Our Status: Happy Slaves

We possess free will Not subject to coercion

But we possess false consciousness Exercise of free will is undermined

We desire to be slaves We love our servitude (Huxley)


29/37

29

Consciousness

1. Knowledge (facts) Shadows on the wall are real Columbus discovered America in 1492

2. Belief Societys honors are valuable Wealth is a major source of happiness

3. Interest

We must defend ourselves against those who havebeen outside the cave I want to be president of the firm.


30/37

30

False Consciousness

What we know , believe , and want is false In readings:

Shadows Computer simulation Dream


31/37

31

Truth

What is really going on Unknown to us

Energy extraction Cave Social stability

The desert of the real ( Matrix )


32/37

32

Action Plan: 2 Steps

1. Free oneself from illusion See the reality that is Achieve free will informed by truth

the desert of the real Stop being happy!

2. Work to realize freedom

Convention program of social change Topple the masters, the system, etc.

(We are more interested in Step 1.)


33/37

33

How can we know reality? 2 ways1. External Intervention

Teacher/philosopher Privileged knowledge Free from illusion Tells us the truth

Plato drags us up from the cave

Morpheus Gives Neo the pill Assumes external third party


34/37

34

How can we know reality?2. Self-discovery

Bootstrapping Muddle your way to truth

Starts with a feeling Learn to articulate it

Errors Pursue occasional clues

Learning to ride a bicycle


35/37

35

Active Defense by Slaves

We dont want to know reality desert of the real

Opposition of the slaves Resist their liberators Attack them

Undermines truth and honor

Prisoners defend the system Solution: Force them to be free?


36/37

36

The Ethical Question

False consciousness negates our ownautonomy

Can someone else know our interestsbetter than us?

Is it OK to force someone to be free?


37/37

37

Summary:

Claims of Plato, The Matrix , Huxley

Although we possess free will, in practice we are enslaved. We areprisoners in a social system that we do not understand and do not

even recognize. We actively contribute to our status as slaves,

because we believe that it is factually necessary, consistent withour principles, and serves our best interests. Were someone to tryto free us, we would likely turn on that person and attack them.

Some enlightened individuals possess superior knowledge aboutthe truth (or they claim to possess it.) They may try to enlighten us. Also, we may have some intuitions about our true state, and we

make seek enlightenment on our own volition.

010 plato matrix huxley

Documents