| The Matrix Revisited | | | | and sets. Seasonschange. They grow old and |
| | | | die. This is not entirely an illusion. |
| | | | |
| | | | Their bodies do decay and die, as ours do. |
| Author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism | | | | They are not exempt fromthe laws of nature. |
| Revisited" | | | | But their AWARENESS of time is |
| | | | computergenerated. The Matrix is sufficiently |
| It is easy to confuse the concepts of | | | | sophisticated andknowledgeable to maintain a |
| "virtual reality" anda "computerized model of | | | | close correlation between the physicalstate |
| reality (simulation)". The former is a self- | | | | of the human (his health and age) and his |
| contained Universe, replete with its "laws of | | | | consciousness of thepassage of time. The |
| physics" and "logic". | | | | basic rules of time - for instance, |
| | | | itsasymmetry - are part of the program. |
| It can bear resemblance to the real world or | | | | |
| not. It can beconsistent or not. It can | | | | But this is precisely it. Time in the minds |
| interact with the real world or not. Inshort, | | | | of these people isprogram-generated, not |
| it is an arbitrary environment. In contrast, | | | | reality-induced. It is not the derivative |
| a model ofreality must have a direct and | | | | ofchange and irreversible (thermodynamic and |
| strong relationship to the world. Itmust obey | | | | other) processes OUT |
| the rules of physics and of logic. The | | | | |
| absence of such arelationship renders it | | | | THERE. Their minds are part of a computer |
| meaningless. A flight simulator is not | | | | program and the computerprogram is a part of |
| muchgood in a world without airplanes or if | | | | their minds. Their bodies are |
| it ignores the laws ofnature. A technical | | | | static,degenerating in their protective |
| analysis program is useless without a | | | | nests. Nothing happens to themexcept in their |
| stockexchange or if its mathematically | | | | minds. They have no physical effect on the |
| erroneous. | | | | world. |
| | | | |
| Yet, the two concepts are often confused | | | | They effect no change. These things set the |
| because they are bothmediated by and reside | | | | Matrix and reality apart. |
| on computers. The computer is a self- | | | | |
| contained (though not closed) Universe. It | | | | To "qualify" as reality a two-way interaction |
| incorporates thehardware, the data and the | | | | must occur. One flowof data is when reality |
| instructions for the manipulation of thedata | | | | influences the minds of people (as does the |
| (software). It is, therefore, by definition, | | | | |
| a virtual reality. | | | | Matrix). The obverse, but equally necessary, |
| | | | type of data flow iswhen people know reality |
| It is versatile and can correlate its reality | | | | and influence it. The Matrix triggers atime |
| with the worldoutside. But it can also | | | | sensation in people the same way that the |
| refrain from doing so. This is theominous | | | | Universe triggers atime sensation in us. |
| "what if" in artificial intelligence (AI). | | | | Something does happen OUT THERE and it |
| What if acomputer were to refuse to correlate | | | | iscalled the Matrix. In this sense, the |
| its internal (virtual) realitywith the | | | | Matrix is real, it is thereality of these |
| reality of its makers? What if it were to | | | | humans. It maintains the requirement of the |
| impose its ownreality on us and make it the | | | | firsttype of flow of data. But it fails the |
| privileged one? | | | | second test: people do notknow that it exists |
| | | | or any of its attributes, nor do they affect |
| In the visually tantalizing movie, "The | | | | itirreversibly. They do not change the |
| Matrix", a breed of AIcomputers takes over | | | | Matrix. Paradoxically, therebels do affect |
| the world. It harvests human embryos | | | | the Matrix (they almost destroy it). In doing |
| inlaboratories called "fields". It then feeds | | | | so,they make it REAL. It is their REALITY |
| them through grimlooking tubes and keeps them | | | | because they KNOW it and theyirreversibly |
| immersed in gelatinous liquid incocoons. This | | | | CHANGE it. |
| new "machine species" derives its energy | | | | |
| needs fromthe electricity produced by the | | | | Applying this dual-track test, "virtual" |
| billions of human bodies thuspreserved. A | | | | reality IS a reality,albeit, at this stage, |
| sophisticated, all-pervasive, computer | | | | of a deterministic type. It affects ourminds, |
| programcalled "The Matrix" generates a | | | | we know that it exists and we affect it in |
| "world" inhabited by theconsciousness of the | | | | return. Ourchoices and actions irreversibly |
| unfortunate human batteries. Ensconced in | | | | alter the state of the system. Thisaltered |
| theirshells, they see themselves walking, | | | | state, in turn, affects our minds. This |
| talking, working and makinglove. This is a | | | | interaction IS whatwe call "reality". With |
| tangible and olfactory phantasm masterfully | | | | the advent of stochastic and quantum |
| createdby the Matrix. Its computing power is | | | | virtualreality generators - the distinction |
| mind boggling. It generatesthe minutest | | | | between "real" and "virtual"will fade. The |
| details and reams of data in a spectacularly | | | | Matrix thus is not impossible. But that it |
| successfuleffort to maintain the illusion. | | | | ispossible - does not make it real. |
| | | | |
| A group of human miscreants succeeds to learn | | | | Appendix - God and Gödel |
| the secret of the | | | | |
| | | | The second movie in the Matrix series - "The |
| Matrix. They form an underground and live | | | | Matrix Reloaded" -culminates in an encounter |
| aboard a ship, looselycommunicating with a | | | | between Neo ("The One") and the architectof |
| halcyon city called "Zion", the last bastion | | | | the Matrix (a thinly disguised God, white |
| ofresistance. In one of the scenes, Cypher, | | | | beard and all). Thearchitect informs Neo that |
| one of the rebels defects. | | | | he is the sixth reincarnation of The Oneand |
| | | | that Zion, a shelter for those decoupled from |
| Over a glass of (illusory) rubicund wine and | | | | the Matrix, hasbeen destroyed before and is |
| (spectral) juicy steak,he poses the main | | | | about to be demolished again. |
| dilemma of the movie. Is it better to live | | | | |
| happilyin a perfectly detailed delusion - or | | | | The architect goes on to reveal that his |
| to survive unhappily but freeof its hold? | | | | attempts to render the |
| | | | |
| The Matrix controls the minds of all the | | | | Matrix "harmonious" (perfect) failed. He was, |
| humans in the world. It isa bridge between | | | | thus, forced tointroduce an element of |
| them, they inter-connected through it. It | | | | intuition into the equations to reflect |
| makesthem share the same sights, smells and | | | | theunpredictability and "grotesqueries" of |
| textures. They remember. Theycompete. They | | | | human nature. This in-builterror tends to |
| make decisions. The Matrix is sufficiently | | | | accumulate over time and to threaten the |
| complex toallow for this apparent lack of | | | | veryexistence of the Matrix - hence the need |
| determinism and ubiquity of freewill. The | | | | to obliterate Zion, theseat of malcontents |
| root question is: is there any difference | | | | and rebels, periodically. |
| between makingdecisions and feeling certain | | | | |
| of making them (not having made them)? | | | | God appears to be unaware of the work of an |
| | | | important, thougheccentric, Czech-Austrian |
| If one is unaware of the existence of the | | | | mathematical logician, Kurt Gödel (1906- |
| Matrix, the answer is no. | | | | 1978). A passing acquaintance with his two |
| | | | theorems would have savedthe architect a lot |
| >From the inside, as a part of the Matrix, | | | | of time. |
| making decisions andappearing to be making | | | | |
| them are identical states. Only an | | | | Gödel's First Incompleteness Theorem |
| outsideobserver - one who in possession of | | | | states that every consistentaxiomatic logical |
| full information regarding boththe Matrix and | | | | system, sufficient to express arithmetic, |
| the humans - can tell the difference. | | | | containstrue but unprovable ("not decidable") |
| | | | sentences. In certain cases |
| Moreover, if the Matrix were a computer | | | | |
| program of infinitecomplexity, no observer | | | | (when the system is omega-consistent), both |
| (finite or infinite) would have been able | | | | said sentences and theirnegation are |
| tosay with any certainty whose a decision was | | | | unprovable. The system is consistent and true |
| - the Matrix's or thehuman's. And because the | | | | - butnot "complete" because not all its |
| Matrix, for all intents and purposes, | | | | sentences can be decided as trueor false by |
| isinfinite compared to the mind of any | | | | either being proved or by being refuted. |
| single, tube-nourished,individual - it is | | | | |
| safe to say that the states of "making | | | | The Second Incompleteness Theorem is even |
| adecision" and "appearing to be making a | | | | more earth-shattering. Itsays that no |
| decision" are subjectivelyindistinguishable. | | | | consistent formal logical system can prove |
| No individual within the Matrix would be able | | | | its ownconsistency. The system may be |
| totell the difference. His or her life would | | | | complete - but then we are unable toshow, |
| seem to him or her asreal as ours are to us. | | | | using its axioms and inference laws, that it |
| The Matrix may be deterministic - but | | | | is consistent |
| thisdeterminism is inaccessible to individual | | | | |
| minds because of thecomplexity involved. When | | | | In other words, a computational system, like |
| faced with a trillion deterministic paths,one | | | | the Matrix, can eitherbe complete and |
| would be justified to feel that he exercised | | | | inconsistent - or consistent and incomplete. |
| free, unconstrainedwill in choosing one of | | | | Bytrying to construct a system both complete |
| them. Free will and determinism | | | | and consistent, God hasrun afoul of |
| areindistinguishable at a certain level of | | | | Gödel's theorem and made possible the |
| complexity. | | | | thirdsequel, "Matrix Revolutions". |
| | | | |
| Yet, we KNOW that the Matrix is different to | | | | ============================================ |
| our world. It is NOTthe same. This is an | | | | ================= |
| intuitive kind of knowledge, for sure, but | | | | |
| thisdoes not detract from its firmness. If | | | | AUTHOR BIO (must be included with the |
| there is no subjectivedifference between the | | | | article) |
| Matrix and our Universe, there must be | | | | |
| anobjective one. Another key sentence is | | | | Sam Vaknin ( ) is the author of Malignant |
| uttered by Morpheus, theleader of the rebels. | | | | |
| He says to "The Chosen One" (the Messiah) | | | | Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After |
| thatit is really the year 2199, though the | | | | the Rain - How the West |
| Matrix gives the impressionthat it is 1999. | | | | |
| | | | Lost the East. He served as a columnist for |
| This is where the Matrix and reality diverge. | | | | Central Europe Review, |
| Though a human whowould experience both would | | | | |
| find them indistinguishable -objectively they | | | | PopMatters, Bellaonline, and eBookWeb, a |
| are different. In one of them (the Matrix), | | | | United Press International |
| peoplehave no objective TIME (though the | | | | |
| Matrix might have it). The other | | | | (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent, and the |
| | | | editor of mental healthand Central East |
| (reality) is governed by it. | | | | Europe categories in The Open Directory and |
| | | | |
| Under the spell of the Matrix, people feel as | | | | Suite101. |
| though time goes by. | | | | |
| | | | Until recently, he served as the Economic |
| They have functioning watches. The sun rises | | | | Advisor to the Governmentof Macedonia. |