The Matrix and Ethical Action Question Assignment

Instructions For this assignment, use the film The Matrix to think about ethical action. Explain the three philosophical concepts clearly, using the philosophical texts, and then apply them to the film by responding to the essay prompt questions. Your analysis must include one citation from Plato’s Apology, one citation from Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, and one citation from Sartre’s essay on bad faith. Essay Prompt Use the film to explain these three philosophical concepts. You can choose any characters or scenes from the film to help you explain what these philosophical concepts mean

. (1) What does Socrates mean when he says “the unexamined life is not worth living”?

(2) What is the difference between voluntary and involuntary action?

(3) What does “bad faith” mean for Sartre? For example, you might use Morpheus as an example in explaining Socrates’ argument that the unexamined life is not worth living—carefully explain, in detail, what the examined life means for Socrates, and how Morpheus might be seen as an example of someone living the examined life. For voluntary and involuntary action, choose any character and action from the film and explain how their action might be involuntary through either force or ignorance, using Aristotle’s criteria. For bad faith, choose a character to analyze and show how they are in bad faith (like Cipher, or perhaps Agent Smith) or choose a character and demonstrate how they avoid bad faith by acting authentically (like Trinity, Neo, Morpheus, etc).

You may use your own writing from the discussion forums, but please do not simply cut and paste—make sure your essay reads as a coherent and organized whole. Be sure to explain all three philosophical concepts in detail, using the philosophical texts—this is a primary objective of the assignment! Avoid plot summary and assume all readers are very familiar with the film.