The Philosophy of the Matrix
A Lesson Plan for Matrix Reloaded

Grade Level: 7-12, College

Subject: Philosophy

� Warner Bros.

Film: Matrix Reloaded

MPAA Rating: R

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Author: Cynthia Kirkeby

Affiliation: ClassBrain, Inc.

Date: 9 June 2003

Duration: 1 - 2 Class Periods

Background:

There is an entire philosophical culture that has arisen around the Matrix Trilogy. How do you tell what is real and what is imagined when your entire world is fabricated by the System? The questions that arise when we explore our existence have been debated for centuries. The debate continues today as we explore the Matrix of our minds.

Topic Questions:

What is reality?
Are our senses reliable, and if not, how do we know what we know?
What does the Matrix represent?
Which elements within Matrix Reloaded are references to religious or mythic concepts?

Background:

� Warner Bros.

Project 1: Read “Wake Up! - Gnosticism & Buddhism in The Matrix,” and watch Matrix and Matrix Reloaded. Write a paper that explores the religious or mythic references within the two movies. Identify the references, the related concepts, and the significance to the film.

Project 2: Compare and contrast the world of The Matrix with the world created in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. How are they similar? What are the pitfalls of the two societies? What are their strengths? Read “The Brave New World of The Matrix” (see Philosophy & The Matrix below), and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (see e-text below).

Project 3: Write a story about one of the characters within the Matrix trilogy and explore what would happen to your character if their world was re-coded to create a completely different reality.

Learning Links:

Philosophy & the Matrix
Explore theories of knowledge, reflections on our existence, and more in this special section on Matrix Reloaded.
Source: Warner Bros.

Brave New World
An online edition of the book by Aldous Huxley.
Source: Huxley.net

Brave New World Monarch Notes
This study guide is helpful when it comes to understanding concepts in Huxley’s work.
Source: Huxley.net