This blog post explores whether true human free will exists between choice, reality, and virtuality through the lens of the film ‘The Matrix’.
In the film ‘The Matrix’, two worlds exist. There is the real world accessible by choosing the red pill, and the virtual world accessible by choosing the blue pill. These two worlds pose philosophical questions that explore the boundaries between the familiar reality and illusion, the real and the fictional. And this choice is based on the following assumptions. First, virtual reality and actual reality are perfectly identical. The virtual world does not grant superpowers or differ from the real world; it provides conditions and environments equivalent to reality. Second, after making the choice, the memory of the choice is erased, and one cannot recognize which world they are living in.
In this scenario of choice, the real world and the virtual world exhibit no differences whatsoever. Therefore, the real world holds no greater value than the virtual world. Consequently, there is no reason to choose the real world, a conclusion stemming from two foundational assumptions.
First, the initial assumption states that virtual reality and actual reality are perfectly identical. Thus, the conclusion that the virtual world is more imperfect because it is a computer-generated program is contradictory. If the virtual world is a world created by a computer program, then the real world is also a world created by a program. If the real world is not created by a computer program, then the virtual world is also not created by a computer program. Thus, arguments that compare the real world and the virtual world to, say, an original and a replica, claiming that the real world has a comparative advantage over the virtual world because some difference exists between the two worlds, are all contradicted by the first assumption.
Next, before explaining the second assumption, to facilitate easier understanding of the real world and virtual world defined as assumptions, I will explain them using the analogy of dreams we have when we sleep. Have you heard the term ‘Lucid Dream’? ‘Lucid Dream’, also known as ‘self-aware dream’, is a term first used by a Dutch physician in 1913. A ‘Lucid Dream’ literally means a dream in which one is aware of dreaming, a concept distinct from the dreams we commonly experience. Typically, when we wake from a nightmare, we see our sweat-soaked pillow and hear our own sigh of relief. In that moment, we distinguish the dream from the real world. To elaborate further, the sweat on the pillow signifies that until that point, we couldn’t distinguish between dream and reality, and we grieved and suffered as if the unfolding unpleasant situation were real. The sigh of relief indicates that only then did we recognize the event as fictional. Thus, while people normally don’t recognize whether they’re dreaming or awake, in a ‘Lucid Dream’ state, they become aware it’s a dream the moment they start dreaming. This allows them to experience things they couldn’t do in reality. Therefore, we can see that beyond the dream and reality we usually distinguish, there exists a third state called ‘Lucid Dream’.
Through this dream state, we realize the boundary between virtual and reality is more ambiguous than we think. When the distinction between virtual reality and actual reality blurs, we can become confused about what is truth and what is fiction. However, as presented in the movie ‘The Matrix’, this confusion disappears once memories are erased after making a choice. This is similar to the intersection of various realities and virtual realities we experience in daily life. For example, when playing a virtual reality game, we know it isn’t real, yet during gameplay, it feels like reality. Only after the game ends do we recognize it was virtual. In this way, when the boundary between virtual reality and actual reality blurs, we experience a new form of reality within it.
So, where do the real world and the virtual world in the movie fit among these three states: reality, ordinary dreams, and ‘Lucid Dream’? The real world chosen by the red pill can be considered the non-dreaming, waking state of reality. And the virtual world chosen by the blue pill is the ordinary dream we accept as reality, feel as reality, and act within as reality. Here, it’s crucial to note that the virtual world is an ordinary dream, not a ‘Lucid Dream’ state. Because when we consider ordinary dreams, many of the concerns people often have about virtual worlds are resolved. First, human dignity cannot be violated in a virtual world. People live in a world with many laws and rules they must uphold, so in the ‘Lucid Dream’ state—where one recognizes the dream—they act freely. We accept the dream world as reality, adhering to the order governed by the laws we uphold in reality, and we do not act against our conscience. Similarly, actions taken within a virtual world without the awareness that it is virtual would not violate human dignity.
Second, there is concern that a person living in a virtual world would experience mental confusion upon learning their home was virtual. This is contradictory when examining the second assumption. After choosing a world, the memory of that choice is erased. If one does not know which world they inhabit, the distinction between worlds vanishes after selection, eliminating the need to worry about mental confusion. This too can be easily understood by drawing a parallel to the dream situation. When do we typically experience confusion in dreams? It occurs not during the dream itself, but in that brief moment after waking, before realizing we were asleep. Similarly, when choosing between a virtual world and the real world, we won’t experience mental confusion because we are unaware of the world’s existence both before and after the choice, just as we don’t experience confusion while dreaming or living in reality.
In such a situation where the boundary between reality and the virtual world is ambiguous, we must ask ourselves what is truth and what is fiction. The movie ‘The Matrix’ prompts us to deeply contemplate the essence of human existence through these questions. If experiences in the virtual world cannot be distinguished from reality, where will we find our identity? These questions are not merely philosophical problems but also practical issues we will face alongside technological advancement.
Therefore, there is no need to worry about mental confusion regarding reality or the potential for human dignity to be compromised. Such concerns are only worries to be mindful of in a virtual world like ‘Lucid Dream,’ where one is aware of its virtual nature. In a virtual world where one is unaware of its virtuality, it is a worry one cannot even have, even if one wanted to. How could one worry about such things without recognizing the virtual nature? It would be as absurd as worrying that the present moment we live in now might be virtual.
Just as with virtual worlds, when we are unaware of a hypothetical situation, we can see that it is not fundamentally different from reality. We often make hypothetical returns to the past when thinking alone or talking with friends. Especially, friends returning to school after military service often reminisce about their pre-service days, regretting how they focused on partying instead of studying. They then boldly declare that if they could go back, they would live more diligently than anyone else, study systematically, and play systematically. At such times, I always make an additional assumption: Could you truly do that if you lost all your memories up to that point? When that assumption is added, their confident, bold declarations vanish instantly. Regrets about the past stem from the experiences and emotions felt during that time. Returning to a past devoid of those memories would merely repeat the same events. This is akin to a virtual world lacking awareness of its own virtual nature. Living within a virtual world without perceiving its virtuality would yield results indistinguishable from reality.
Thus far, we have examined two assumptions showing that the virtual world and the real world are not different. We can see that distinguishing between the virtual world and the real world is both impossible and unnecessary, and that the virtual world possesses no disadvantages compared to the real world. In other words, reality holds no advantages over the virtual world. Therefore, since the real world cannot be said to be more valuable than the virtual world, there is no reason to choose it.
In conclusion, the two worlds presented in ‘The Matrix’ pose questions deeply connected to our actual lives, transcending simple philosophical theory. Whichever world we choose, within that world we must find our meaning of existence and establish our own identity. Ultimately, while this film deals with the problem of choice, it demands deep reflection on what kind of beings we will become after making that choice.
