Topic: The matrix is society

From the interview with Larry Wachowski that is available in the files section of this site: "We're social, we are social animals. It's like, so much of our realities are a construction based on communication. We have a point of view about the world and we validate it through finding another human being that has a similar point of view. And thus we say, "A-ha." You know, it's like, cause we can't really know anything. So if we just get enough people together and, we can believe in castles in the sky... It's reciprocity is what is."

"The Matrix is society. It is culture. It is all the things that have been built to blind us to the innate freedoms to be who and what we want to be. And frankly, if you can't unplug, if you can't break away, the things you see remain tinted and obscured by the Matrix."

http://www.donnarose.com/Spoon.html

The above quotes are discussed in detail in "The Social Construction of Reality : A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge":

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/038...Fencoding=UTF8

Re: The matrix is society

Yeah, I noticed the similarity between Berger/Luckmann's Sociology of Knowledge
and the Matrix, as I had to review the Berger/Luckmann book a couple of weeks ago.   

Anyway, I'm in a hurry now, I just came across a website dedicated to the simulation
argument connected with The Matrix. Check it out:
http://www.simulation-argument.com/ smile

"...Manjushri said: 'I think that when you can[not] speak of any event, when you neither indicate nor know anything, [and] pass beyond questions and answers, this is to enter gate of oneness. Sir, now please tell us how a bodhisattva enters the gate of oneness.'
And Vimalakirti kept silent, and did not say a word..."

Re: The matrix is society

Solar_Sphinx wrote:

Yeah, I noticed the similarity between Berger/Luckmann's Sociology of Knowledge
and the Matrix, as I had to review the Berger/Luckmann book a couple of weeks ago.   

Anyway, I'm in a hurry now, I just came across a website dedicated to the simulation
argument connected with The Matrix. Check it out:
http://www.simulation-argument.com/ smile

Thanks a lot! I'm looking into that link.

Incidently, what did you think of the book? Can I read the review?

Re: The matrix is society

Well, the review is in Swedish, so...;) I mostly criticized the fact that the view on society in the book is rather pessimistic. To be honest I found the book a bit repetitive and boring to read, but the theory is interesting though. But, in its' defence, I get bored quite easily;) I prefer to get the same theory presented in a more colorful (popular) package... Berger/Luckmann is of course huge when it comes to social construction theory, so if you're interested in that, check it out! It's not a very long book either, about 240 pages.

"...Manjushri said: 'I think that when you can[not] speak of any event, when you neither indicate nor know anything, [and] pass beyond questions and answers, this is to enter gate of oneness. Sir, now please tell us how a bodhisattva enters the gate of oneness.'
And Vimalakirti kept silent, and did not say a word..."

Re: The matrix is society

Solar_Sphinx wrote:

Well, the review is in Swedish, so...;) I mostly criticized the fact that the view on society in the book is rather pessimistic. To be honest I found the book a bit repetitive and boring to read, but the theory is interesting though. But, in its' defence, I get bored quite easily;) I prefer to get the same theory presented in a more colorful (popular) package... Berger/Luckmann is of course huge when it comes to social construction theory, so if you're interested in that, check it out! It's not a very long book either, about 240 pages.

It's my favorite book of all time. The first time I read it several years ago it struck me big time but I didn't realize how accurate it is! At that time I was a devout Christian and pretty closed minded about what was going on this world, the book really opened my eyes. They describe how the elite mold society for their own benefit and they do it in the kind of detail that I haven't seen elsewhere. I didn't find it boring at all, it's one of the most exciting books I've read.

Re: The matrix is society

Well, I guess our different feelings about the book just shows the beauty of the world then, an example of the diversity of creation wink
I was actually a bit surprised about how closely it reminded me of other spiritual teachings... not that often that sociology makes you think of spirituality. Anyway, Don Miguel Ruiz har also written some cool stuff about society that has some similarities with Berger/Luckmann, but Ruiz' teachings are clothed in toltec wisdom instead:)

"...Manjushri said: 'I think that when you can[not] speak of any event, when you neither indicate nor know anything, [and] pass beyond questions and answers, this is to enter gate of oneness. Sir, now please tell us how a bodhisattva enters the gate of oneness.'
And Vimalakirti kept silent, and did not say a word..."