USH'S MATRIX GAME FOURTH ASSIGNMENT (PHILOSOPHY PATH)- 'The Journey'

Question for other players - if it's allowed?

The painting shows a man drinking wine happy and bright among depressed people. He is looking out into the world from a picture.

Does this symbolise us drinking wine and being shown a world outside of what all those around us cannot see?

Oh and Ush, I had an in character post, but I'm not sure if it made sense. Since this is philosophical, do you mind?

Go for it, I say.

"So what you're saying is that the Matrix is just as important as the Real World, even more so to some people. Those people being the 'inmates' or machines like you? I still believe that if we gave them the choice most of the 'inmates' as you call them would leave. To those that stay it would be just as important though. I see your point. Everything is relative."

Heh... Does it make sense? I'm off to bed anyway, and since it doesnt really matter what I say I'll ask Melitus the wuestion too. But wait till I post it 😛

"Well, the reality or otherwise of the Matrix has little bearing on whether you would want to stay in it or not. That is simply down to what you value. That is something we can discuss later.

"But to some, yes, of course, the Matrix is far more important than the 'real' world. Clearly not to any of you, though, by your very nature."

"Why did you bring us here, what is the point of this room in regards to us understanding Jericho."

"Do not get ahead of yourself or you will understand nothing," says Melitus. "If you want to learn anything, it must be built upon proper foundations. This room brings you into the context of the Matrix.

And inside that context, I have a question for you, that I want you all to consider. And when you answer my questions, I wish you to bear in mind all you have heard, seen and said when you consider each thing in turn. My question is this:

Is a decision made inside the Matrix in any way less relevant than one made outside of it?"

BTW, the Philosophy Path has now started. Pass or fail, the process begins now.

"You ask that as if there was a simple answer. I would say yes. If I decided to kill someone here it would be the same as if I had decided to kill someone out there."

"If you want to supply a complicated answer than do so. Do you think that answer applies to all situations? Do you think there are situations where a decision made in the Matrix is less relevant than one made outside of it?"

"I don't belive a decision inside the matrix is in anyway less relevant" starts Rade. "when plugged in, the mind is still perfectly aware of what it's doing, and the decisions aren't controlled by anyone...or anything, in this case" he smirks
"it's the effect that sometimes differs..."

(ok, we now await the others. If any of you wish to debate your answers amongst yourselves, please do)

Well I still want an answer to my question about the painting...

I don't remember you asking Melitus about the painting...

I meant from the other players... Hey I may as well ask Melitus unless it's too late?

Don't worry, you'll get a better chance to.

And yup, if anyone wants to talk that over?

Okay I'll leave it...

"I agree with the others. Choices are made by the human mind, not the Machines. They may have had us plugged into their computer program, but they didn't program us..." Heph says, looking at a screen showing a woman undressing, then to another showing a fly landing on a cake, then another and another and another.

"I meant you people as much as I meant people plugged in," says Melitus. "Does that change your answer?"

"The Matrix is more effective to the mind, while the real world will effect you body. But neither can live without the other. The real question is if there is no difference in the decisions then why are people so anxious to be free from a system that is no different than the system they choose to enter.

"Free will is the answer I believe, machines control our enviornmnt in the matrix and thus they have more say in our choices than we woudl like. In the real world it is us and the world we have created. Living with a decision in the matrix is different because we did not create the situation ourselve, it was built for us by the machines who thought they could predict our feelings and mind processes, but one of the greatest desires of humans has always been to master ones own destiny. How can we do so if our environment is not the sum of our own decisions?

"I dont believe we can."

"So you think a decision made in the Matrix is intrinsically less valuable than one made outside of it?" asks Melitus. "Remember I am not just talking about prisoners, but yourselves and myself also. I could argue that your rationale about environment is a situation that could equally apply in the real world if enslaved there. Is there anything particularly about being in the Matrix as opposed to any other factor that makes the decision less valid?

"Perhaps a better thing for me to ask you, Castor, would be this- if the Matrix had been created by humans, as a means of leisure, or perhaps as a means of survival due to real-world cataclysm, and there was no enslavement, no Agents, and everything was created in there by Humans... would you still say decisions made in there had less validity?"