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The Matrix as Metaphysics
David Chalmers argued that a “metaphysical hypothesis” underlies the nature of reality, but this is not the only alternate reality that could exist on earth. While the body and the mind could be separated due to machines or various vats that contain brains, our alternate reality could also be the one we are currently living in. Although all people are capable of their own thoughts and their own choices, this world that we live in could be a mere illusion in the aspect that we have no free will. What if there were people looking down at us, manipulating our actions as if we were puppets? That simply means we are deceived into believing that what we think comes from our own mind. This illusion demonstrates that our so-called reality cannot be differentiated from dreams, thus the reason to doubt our reality on earth. The people that are controlling our lives though — whether they are gods or people — have their own reality that they live while they simply watch over our false lives, manipulating the outcome to their own benefits. If we are the ones being controlled, our whole world is false, thus the need to show an alternate reality.
In order for The Truman Show to no longer be a disturbing skeptical scenario, it would need to be modified so that the actors surrounding Truman lived the same life they did even when he is not around. Even if their lives would be false, similar to their actions when…
