
Philosophers Explore The Matrix
Christopher Grau(Editor)
Oxford University Press Inc
Published on 24. November 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-0-19-518107-4 (ISBN)
Description
The Matrix trilogy is unique among recent popular films in that it is constructed around important philosophical questions--classic questions which have fascinated philosophers and other thinkers for thousands of years. Editor Christopher Grau here presents a collection of new, intriguing essays about some of the powerful and ancient questions broached by The Matrix and its sequels, written by some of the most prominent and reputable philosophers working today. They provide intelligent, accessible, and thought-provoking examinations of the philosophical issues that support the films.
Philosophers Explore The Matrix includes an introduction that surveys the use of philosophical ideas in the film. Topics that the contributors tackle include: how a collaborative dream could differ from hallucination, the difference between the Matrix and the "real" world; why living in the Matrix would be considered "bad"; the similarities between the Matrix and Plato's Cave; the moral status of artificially created beings, whether one can behave immorally in illusory circumstances, and the true nature of free will and responsibility. This volume also includes an appendix of classic philosophical writing on these issues by Plato, Berkeley, Descartes, Putnam, and Nozick.
Philosophers Explore The Matrix will fascinate any fan of the films who wants to delve deeper into their themes, as well as any student of philosophy who desires an accessible entry into this challenging and profoundly vital world of ideas.
Contributors include David Chalmers, Andy Clark, Julia Driver, Hubert Dreyfus, Stephen Dreyfus, Frances Flannery -Dailey, Christopher Grau, Richard Hanley, Tim Mawson, Colin McGinn, Michael McKenna, John Partridge, James Pryor, Iakovos Vasiliou, Rachel Wagner, and Kevin Warwick
Philosophers Explore The Matrix includes an introduction that surveys the use of philosophical ideas in the film. Topics that the contributors tackle include: how a collaborative dream could differ from hallucination, the difference between the Matrix and the "real" world; why living in the Matrix would be considered "bad"; the similarities between the Matrix and Plato's Cave; the moral status of artificially created beings, whether one can behave immorally in illusory circumstances, and the true nature of free will and responsibility. This volume also includes an appendix of classic philosophical writing on these issues by Plato, Berkeley, Descartes, Putnam, and Nozick.
Philosophers Explore The Matrix will fascinate any fan of the films who wants to delve deeper into their themes, as well as any student of philosophy who desires an accessible entry into this challenging and profoundly vital world of ideas.
Contributors include David Chalmers, Andy Clark, Julia Driver, Hubert Dreyfus, Stephen Dreyfus, Frances Flannery -Dailey, Christopher Grau, Richard Hanley, Tim Mawson, Colin McGinn, Michael McKenna, John Partridge, James Pryor, Iakovos Vasiliou, Rachel Wagner, and Kevin Warwick
Reviews / Votes
"This book is a rare thing: an anthology on a highly popular topic that actually includes many intellectually excellent contributions, and is at the same time engaging and intelligible to the non-academic public."--Ned Block, New York University "This is an excellent collection by well-known philosophers ...uniformly intelligent, and well-written. The volume constitutes a genuinely excellent route into the subject. Amateurs who enjoyed the movie in part because it got them thinking about deep issues will be challenged by the book, and they will profit considerably from working through it." --Gideon Rosen, Princeton UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
7 line drawings
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
497 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-518107-4 (9780195181074)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Christopher Grau
Philosophers Explore The Matrix
Book
12/2005
Oxford University Press Inc
€115.20
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Christopher Grau is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Florida International University.
Editor
Assistant Professor of PhilosophyAssistant Professor of Philosophy, Florida International University
Content
1: Christopher Grau: Introduction
2: Christopher Grau: Bad Dreams, Evil Demons, and the Experience Machine: Philosophy and The Matrix
3: Tim Mawson: Morpheus and Berkeley on Reality
4: James Pryor: What's So Bad about Living in the Matrix?
5: Colin McGinn: The Matrix of Dreams
6: Hubert L. Dreyfus and Stephen D. Dreyfus: Existential Phenomenology and the Brave New World of The Matrix
7: Iakovos Vasiliou: Reality, What Matters, and The Matrix
8: Richard Hanley: Never the Twain Shall Meet: Reflections on the Very First Matrix
9: David J. Chalmers: The Matrix as Metaphysics
10: Andy Clark: The Twisted Matrix: Dream, Simulation, or Hybrid?
11: Kevin Warwick: The Matrix--Our Future?
12: Julia Driver: Artificial Ethics
13: Michael McKenna: Neo's Freedom...Whoa!
14: John Partridge: Plato's Cave and The Matrix
15: Rachel Wagner and Frances Flannery-Dailey: Wake Up! Worlds of Illusion in Gnosticism, Buddhism, and The Matrix Project
Appendix: Selections from Classic Texts Plato, The Republic Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy Berkeley, Of the Principles of Human Knowledge Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia Putnam, Reason, Truth, and History
Contributors
Index
2: Christopher Grau: Bad Dreams, Evil Demons, and the Experience Machine: Philosophy and The Matrix
3: Tim Mawson: Morpheus and Berkeley on Reality
4: James Pryor: What's So Bad about Living in the Matrix?
5: Colin McGinn: The Matrix of Dreams
6: Hubert L. Dreyfus and Stephen D. Dreyfus: Existential Phenomenology and the Brave New World of The Matrix
7: Iakovos Vasiliou: Reality, What Matters, and The Matrix
8: Richard Hanley: Never the Twain Shall Meet: Reflections on the Very First Matrix
9: David J. Chalmers: The Matrix as Metaphysics
10: Andy Clark: The Twisted Matrix: Dream, Simulation, or Hybrid?
11: Kevin Warwick: The Matrix--Our Future?
12: Julia Driver: Artificial Ethics
13: Michael McKenna: Neo's Freedom...Whoa!
14: John Partridge: Plato's Cave and The Matrix
15: Rachel Wagner and Frances Flannery-Dailey: Wake Up! Worlds of Illusion in Gnosticism, Buddhism, and The Matrix Project
Appendix: Selections from Classic Texts Plato, The Republic Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy Berkeley, Of the Principles of Human Knowledge Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia Putnam, Reason, Truth, and History
Contributors
Index