Assignment Problem:
Should we take seriously the hypothesis that we might be in a reality like the Matrix? Why or why not?
Remember, think about the arguments from Grau and Descartes presented in the lecture this week, and deliver good reasons in support of your conclusion. We cannot just say "no, it should not be taken seriously," if we have no evidence to support this view.
Can we be certain we are interacting with the real world? How? Could we be brains in vats? Why or why not? Would finding out that you were in the Matrix change the way you live your life?
What do you make of Cypher's actions? Is his view of the Matrix akin to hooking yourself up to Nozick's Experience Machine? Would you hook up to the machine, as described in the lecture this week? Is getting pleasurable experiences all that matters in life?
Would you feel that you are missing out on "real life" by hooking up to the machine? Why? Is there any value at all to being "in touch" with reality (even if we cannot be certain that reality is "real")? What can we know about the real world? Be sure to answer each of these questions in your response.