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The Matrix

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2009

Colin McGinn
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Abstract

The science-fiction film The Matrix (the first in a trilogy) generated a great deal of philosophical interest. There are already three collections of philosophical papers either published or in the pipeline devoted to the film (all are aimed at the general public, not academics). Here, Colin McGinn takes a closer look at the film and comes up with some rather surprising conclusions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Think , Volume 2 , Issue 5 , Autumn 2003 , pp. 7 - 16
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Philosophy 2003

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References

Notes

1 Early on in the movie a guy refers to Neo as his own ‘personal Jesus Christ’. Cypher says, ‘You scared the bejesus out of me’ when Neo surprises him. Mouse says, ‘Jesus Christ, he's fast’ while Neo is being trained. Trinity says, ‘Jesus Christ, they're killing him’ while Neo is getting pummeled by the Agents. And his civilian name, ‘Anderson’, suggests the antecedent cognomen ‘Christian’.

2 This is forthcoming from Harvard University Press, 2003; full title Mindsight: Image, Dream, Meaning.

3 I am working on a book about this, tentatively entitled Screen Dreams.