The Matrix

Do you possess ideas—or do ideas possess you? Is it better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied? Why is The Matrix so universally loved by people of all political, moral, and philosophical attitudes? Mike and Dan plug into The Matrix, the action thriller that surprised everyone who saw it in 1999 as well as first-time viewers today. What would have happened if James Cameron had directed it, how the film resembles the best installment of the Star Wars films, and how Keanu Reeves depicts the liberating effects of free will all come into the conversation. So take the red pill and give it a listen! While filming, cast members were given assigned reading: Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation, Kevin Kelly’s Out of Control, and Introducing Evolutionary Psychology by Dylan Evans. Keep up with the syllabus! Follow us on Twitter or Letterboxd. Incredible bumper music by John Deley.