I have just started to post
Posts: 3
|
New to this site, I found myself liking most of it, but definitely disapproving of the "Is Neo a Program?" section.
Basically, the entire argument hinges on the concept that the Oracle and the Architect wouldn't understand Neo/the future as well if Neo were human. in fact, this assumption is invalid. it also implies that predestination and lack of choice are the assumptions of the film.
First: the Architect.:
"Architect: "We already know what you are going to do...Already, I can see the...chemical precursors that signal the onset of an emotion, designed specifically to overwhelm logic and reason"
This is a strange statement, since it says
The location where Neo is doesn't inhibit chemistry. Thus Neo is not in a pure computer code environment.
The emotion is designed. It could mean that programming code is acting thru chemical signals manifestating as emotion overriding logic"
says the admin. but the architect could be referring to simulated chemistry of the matrix, which would presumeably represent the real emotional state of the person/program.
As for the Oracle, first, remember that she doesn't know everything.
"Morpheus: she would say she knows enough." (or whatever the exact wording was)
the oracle is attempting to create a specific future. we aren't entirely sure what it is, but everyone has goals.
nor is it obvious to me that future is forordained. the list of quotes suggesting predestination don't actually prove that.
there are 3 reasons why they don't:
A: much of this knowledge comes from the many loops, twists and reiterations/reboots/whatever. much of what happens has happened before, and can be exspected to happen again. or for something similar to happen.
B: people in all kinds of films talk that way, referring to legendary people, or having been waiting for someone. even without brining predestination into it, this can be explained.
"Aha, here he is at last. Neo, the One himself, right? And the legendary Morpheus. And Trinity, of course"
Merovingian knows that Neo will enevtually meet him, because both are important to the future of the matrix. he knows that at some point, Neo will want something form him, whether it's help, answers, whatever.
of course Trinity is there, because she is Neo's companion. and why shouldn't Morpheus be legenday? he found The One.
C: many robots and programs speak as though there were no choice. the Architect talks about how things are happeneing as they are supposed to. The robots are trying to CREATE predestination. he wants to control everything. the Matrix is a massive attempt to eliminate choice. how successful it is depends on whether you belive Zion is a matrix, what you think about NEO, the Oracle, etc. Neo, at least on the surface, is someone fighting for choice, and the battle hasn't been lost yet. nor in fact, can predestiny ever completely win out, because the Matrix doesn't trap everyone. (if you belive zion= matrix things get bleaker.)
IN fact, the future can;t be forseen and in the matrix movies a number of things happen that WEREN'T supposed to.
now, as to how the Orcale knows what she knows, there are a few asnwers.
1: i think most people are agreed that she has access to information about the state of the matrix.
(possible)
2: humans create an "avatar" by pluging in to the matrix. the simulation is so good that their mental/brain state can be recorded in this avatar. meaning that the minds of the users are recorded in the computers that run the matrix.
3: she manipulates, she doesn't fortell. while it's true that she has to know a lot to succeed in her plots, she doesn't fortell the future. in addition to a lot of data from the matrix, she has an excellent grasp of human nature. a simple psyvhologist can tell when someone is ill at ease and unlikely to sit down.
the admin says:
"Oracle: "I'd ask you to sit down, but you're not going to anyway. And don't worry about the vase."
Neo: "What vase? [Neo turns around looking for the vase and breaks it]"
Oracle: "That vase."
Neo: "I'm sorry."
Oracle: "I said don't worry about it."
It is hard to imagine how a software could predict this, except if she guided him and/or could read his programming. "
A: she could read his avatar's programming which derives from him as a human.
B: she does guide him: (i don't remember exact wording) "what's really going to bake your noodle later is whther you would have broken it if i hadn't said anything."
she didn't FORSEE him breaking the vase, she CAUSED him to break the vase.
similarly, she says that either he or Morpheus will die, which isn't true, in order to get him to do what she wants. she can read the state of the matrix and read minds through the science we call psychology.
|
