Matrix and Thirteen Floor movies. What right what wrong there.
by Dr. Leonid Sakharov
Analysis of the ideas in two iconic movies about virtual reality:
“Matrix” and “The Thirteenth Floor”.
Blockbuster movies spread ideas as nothing else. The hypothesis
that one can actually live in world that is illusion, projection
of abstract calculations projected inside his brain was outlined
much earlier of “Matrix” and “The Thirteenth Floor” releases
both in 1999. These movies brought awareness of the weird idea
of virtual reality into broad audience for what their creators
deserve indisputable credit. Every time when some specific description
of the virtual reality in these movies will be characterized
as nonsense the criticism is no way directed toward authors.
They probably understand all logical deficient in stories better
than we but laws of creation art product demand not logic but
right emotional response to be extracted from viewer.
In “Matrix” humanity at some point in future will destroy ecology
of Earth to the point that only giant computer left to exist.
Energy for this computer is produced by numerous biological batteries
with human bodies as elements. To support psycho of these human
batteries computer creates for them virtual reality world called
“Matrix”. Small rebellious group of humans live in underground
refuge and want to survive as free persons at first and maybe
free all others (it is not quite clear from movie). Obvious that
construction is complete rubbish.
A top food chain creature as human doesn’t good choice for bio-battery.
Bacteria would be much better if there is any necessity to take
electricity from bio material. Degrading human person to battery
in “Matrix” movie meant to offend viewer only. There is no sense
for supercomputer to maintain giant farms of people with only
goal producing electricity. Solar panels at the orbit would be
the solution incomparable more effective in reality but there
would be no plot for movie.
Life inside “Matrix” virtual reality is obviously better compare
cave wretched existence biological population rebellious humans.
Privilege position inside Matrix is efficient bribe to betray
the team at least for one character. Is ugly truth more valuable
compare to illusion of comfort? It depends on how good illusion
is, isn’t it? Do you want to know that according to physics you
are collection of mindless particles these move by strange laws
of quantum mechanics you don’t even be educated about and plus
randomly as flighty fog drops? I don’t think so. You love to
hear that you were born for some noble happiness and course that
will be achieved without real pain.
The revolution to be free from illusion of virtual reality is
against human nature. It was a bow to politically correctness
of liberal progressive cons. After almost two decades passed
after Matrix release there is no social movements these have
any noticeable tracking against computer games simulating reality.
In the contrary there are even sport events when professional
players compete in virtual word and public pay to see. It is
escape from tragic reality as any performance show that in some
sense is version of virtual reality.
There is theory that events in story of “Matrix” movie related
to biological humans has only version of matrix for comforting
special rebellious human batteries. There were no free humans
there. Just variations of the same dream of freedom. Nobody left
their cell in incubators of fetuses. This theory is much more
realistic compare to actual sort of optimistic final of movie.
Depiction of live in virtual reality is why movie “Matrix” is
breakthrough in philosophy. It is complex numerical simulation
that cannot be distinct from physical reality by avatars living
in virtual reality. Or they live motionless in feeding soup as
bio-batteries? Or their material soul is real and motionless
but virtual active avatars are actors in apparent physical world?
Obviously there cannot be inside answer what is really real.
There must be some magical peel to swallow in dream to wake up
in ugly situation that is real reality or maybe not but dream
about dream. Who can know?
In “Thirteen Floor” the playground is like “Russian” doll. People
from real, physical world developed virtual realities to entertain
themselves. In one of the virtual worlds the secondary virtual
reality was developed. Intelligent virtual entity was able to
travel and finally settle in higher order reality. Mystery plot
in the movie is sort of fun but irrelevant for our reasoning
so will be omitted here.
First thought after movie is highest reality in movie indeed
physical reality? If the world has no computers as ours lately
was it is either physical reality or lowest level virtual theme
park. Very soon when virtual world in our reality will be developed
at the level of perception shown in these movies: “Matrix” and
“Thirteen Floor” the question how do we know that visiting virtual
reality game we haven’t accommodated guests from higher reality?
We don’t and we cannot know.
Oct. 28, 2018; 19:47 EST