THE GNOSTIC THEMES IN THE MATRIX (1999). AND, DO WE LIVE IN A SIMULATION?

The idea that we might exist in an illusion or simulated reality like the one presented in The Matrix (1999) has garnered surprising popularity among both philosophers and certain scientists. Its contemporary formulation stems from the influential 2003 paper titled ‘Are We Living in a Computer Simulation?’ authored by Swedish philosopher Nick Bostrom. Bostrom proposes the hypothetical scenario wherein highly advanced civilizations in the distant future may be inclined to create “ancestor simulations” of sentient beings from their ancient galactic past. In this context, the number of simulated minds would greatly outnumber the actual minds. Hence if you find yourself to be one of the few authentic minds amidst the countless simulated ones — it would be exceptionally unlikely. The idea also holds an important historical presence within philosophical skepticism, which raises doubts about our capacity to possess absolute certainty regarding the external world and has been explored across various philosophical traditions. For example, the Taoist sage Zhuangzi from ancient China conveyed a celebrated anecdote recounting the quandary of a man uncertain whether he was a human dreaming of being a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming of being a human. Likewise, René Descartes, a prominent philosopher, contemplated the potential of being manipulated by an “evil demon” or “evil genius” exerting control over all his sensory perceptions, while the “brain in a vat”, Hans Reichenbach’s “cube illusion”, and Plato’s “allegory of the cave” encapsulate similar ideas. 

A common argument that we could be in a virtual reality or computerized simulation comes from the discovery of Quantum Entanglement (otherwise known as Nonlocality) which describes the ability of objects to instantaneously correspond with one another, even when separated by large distances (supposedly even across the known universe). In a simulation or video-game, distance doesn’t limit instant correspondence because all points in the game are equidistant with respect to the source of the simulation. In which case, Nonlocality would make sense if the world were a simulation. Philip Dick, who the Wachowski’s were inspired by, once said: “We are living in a computer-programmed reality and the only clue we have is when some variable is changed and some alteration in our reality occurs”. Elon Musk has said that the chances we’re living in base-reality are “a billion to one” and has suggested that at the rapid rate at which video-game graphics’ sophistication and verisimilitude is increasing it won’t be long before games become “indistinguishable from reality”. In which case, the argument goes, how do we know we aren’t already in a computer simulation now created by more advanced beings? This is more than whimsical thinking. While exploring the mathematics of String Theory, physicist James Gates famously discovered literal “computer code” buried deep within the equations, with Gates saying: “I’ve come to a very strange point in my life, because I never envisioned that The Matrix movie might be an accurate representation of the world I live in”.

The implications of the Double Slit experiment also suggest that we could be living in a simulation due to the fact that the particles which behave like waves are in a superstate. They are neither there nor are they not there. In other words, what you don’t see isn’t actually present. This is how performance optimization works in video-games and how we are able to represent massive open worlds. What is not visible to the observer simply does not exist and doesn’t have to be rendered (see the book ‘The Simulation Hypothesis’, by Rizwan Virk). Some have described this as mind creating reality. In his book ‘House On The Hill’, Mark Megna states: “The Double Slit experiment proves that the mind creates matter with the collapse of the wave function. Therefore, the mind does have a special status in the universe as so many have alluded to”. Of course, this is a common thread in The Matrix, as Neo essentially creates reality, making the material world completely subservient to his mind. It’s assumed that the Wachowski’s partially based The Matrix on the work of French philosopher Jean Baudrillard, since his book ‘Simulacra and Simulation’ is featured at the start of the movie. In ‘Simulacra and Simulation’, Baudrillard discusses the concept of hyperreality, where simulated or artificial representations of reality become more real than the actual reality they are based on. In The Matrix, the world that humans perceive as real is a simulated reality. People are plugged into this simulation, similar to how Baudrillard’s hyperreality blurs the line between reality and simulation.

Is there any valid rationale to genuinely accept that we could exist inside a computerized simulation, or is it merely an appealing yet purely aesthetic concept akin to technological religion? Well, many scientists seriously consider the idea. In a 2017 paper titled ‘On Testing the Simulation Theory’, published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Quantum Foundations, the authors argue that if our universe is a simulation and has limited resources, it should save power. They compare this to video-games, where to save processing power, only what you see in the game is shown, not everything else. This is sometimes called selective rendering. In considering this, they draw attention to a feature of the universe that appears analogous to the selective rendering in video-games. This feature is known in Quantum Physics as “wave function collapse” wherein fundamental particles behave as wave functions until they are observed, at which point their wave-like characteristics “collapse” into predictable particle interactions. This behaviour bears a resemblance to video-games where information is presented only when observed. The paper outlines several variations of the Double Slit experiment, designed to isolate the precise role of the observer in determining the experimental outcomes. The ultimate goal of the experiments is to look for a situation in which the universe would change its behaviour in order to avoid creating a paradox. If this was observed, the authors argue, it would be “an indicator of a VR engine [simulated universe] reacting to the intent of the experiment”.

Melvin Vopson, a physicist from Portsmouth University discovered a new law of physics that he calls The Second Law of Infodynamics. It’s like the second law of thermodynamics but for information, stating that information entropy in computational systems decreases or stays the same over time. The theory suggests our world behaves like computational optimization mechanisms, revealing that evolution isn’t random but follows this law. He looked into biological, physical, and computational systems, and the law is present in all three. This strongly implies that we live in a computational environment. In his published scientific paper titled ‘The Second Law of Infodynamics and its Implications For the Simulated Universe Hypothesis’, he states: “The simulation hypothesis is a philosophical theory, in which the entire universe and our objective reality are just simulated constructs. Recent scientific developments in the field of information physics, such as the publication of the mass-energy-information equivalence principle, appear to support this possibility. In particular, the 2022 discovery of the second law of information dynamics (infodynamics) facilitates new and interesting research tools at the intersection between physics and information. In this article, we re-examine the Second Law of Infodynamics and its applicability to digital information, genetic information, atomic physics, mathematical symmetries, and cosmology, and we provide scientific evidence that appears to underpin the simulated universe hypothesis”.

Investigative journalist, David Icke, in his book ‘The Trap’, states: “What we call the human world is a massively-advanced version of a virtual reality computer system created to entrap our sense of reality and imprison our lower consciousness in an ever-recycling feedback loop between different levels of this simulation or ‘Matrix’. This process has become known as ‘reincarnation’. The physics of our reality and computer games are the same as highlighted by physicist and cosmologist Max Tegmark at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)”. Tegmark has discussed the idea that our universe might be a mathematical construct that he argues could point towards the possibility of a simulated universe, saying: “If I were a character in a computer game, I would also eventually discover that the rules seemed completely rigid and mathematical”. If we did exist in a simulation, how would such a thing come about? Consider adopting the perspective of future generations or AI entities that have surpassed us and employ quantum computing or alternative methods to construct simulations and create sentient beings to inhabit such simulations or use the simulation to trap souls. Visionaries from diverse cultures and epochs have acknowledged the existence of a manipulative species responsible for orchestrating our reality. The Gnostics, whose teachings are preserved in the Nag-Hammadi Library — propose this concept explicitly. Similarly, Hinduism and other visionary cultures convey a shared insight: We inhabit an artifice, called “Maya” (or “Matrix”) characterized by its illusory nature.

The idea that ordinary, unenlightened humanity might be trapped or imprisoned in a virtual reality is a very old one. One of the earliest examples of this can be found in Gnosticism. Gnosticism is a diverse and complex religious and philosophical movement that emerged in the early centuries of the Common Era. In some Gnostic systems, the material world is viewed as the creation of a lesser deity known as the Demiurge who trapped humanity in the lower material world that the Gnostics believed was an illusion. This God-like entity is responsible for fashioning the material world and is seen as an obstacle to spiritual enlightenment. The Demiurge is described in Gnostic texts as “inorganic” akin to a machine, which is a fitting parallel to the God-like program called the Architect in The Matrix that created the virtual reality illusion that Neo inhabits (the Architect is like God as he sees everything on his innumerable television screens). The “Architect” is a Gnostic term to describe the Demiurge. The Wikipedia page ‘Great Architect of the Universe’ states: “The concept of the Great Architect of the Universe occurs in Gnosticism. The Demiurge is the Great Architect of the Universe”. In The Matrix Reloaded, it’s revealed that the Architect has trapped Neo in a cycle of rebirth, similar to the Demiurge who traps humans in a reincarnation cycle. Both the Demiurge’s world and the computer simulation in The Matrix are perceived as deceptive constructs that veil the true nature of existence. In both scenarios, individuals remain unaware of their spiritual essence and are held captive in an artificial realm of illusion.

Some Gnostic traditions include a divine saviour character, sometimes described as Jesus himself, who descends from the higher, spiritual realm to aid humanity in overcoming the Demiurge and achieving salvation. Here we seen another connection to The Matrix — as Neo is depicted as a Jesus-like character in many ways. Both Neo and Jesus are destined to bring about salvation and liberation for humanity. They’re seen as chosen ones with extraordinary powers and a mission to free people from oppression. Neo experiences a resurrection-like transformation, overcoming death and returning with newfound powers, freeing those trapped in the Matrix. Similarly, Jesus is believed to have risen from the dead, and in doing so, liberated humanity, “freeing us from sin”. The full name of Neo is “Thomas Anderson”. Anderson means “Son of Man” and in the New Testament, Jesus appropriates the title “Son of Man” to describe himself. Furthermore, the apartment number that Neo dies in is “33”. Jesus died at 33. There’s also a scene in Matrix Revolutions where Neo defeats Smith and a Cross of light erupts on Neo’s chest (as shown here). Both Neo and Jesus embark on transformative paths, awakening to their true identities and powers. They both challenge oppressive systems and seek to liberate humanity from the chains of illusion and control, and they both undergo a resurrection-like experience, where their deaths lead to greater transcendence and the ability to overcome their adversaries. If the similarities weren’t obvious enough, one of the characters even refers to Neo as his “own personal Jesus Christ”.

When Neo opens his door near the start of The Matrix, we see his door number is 101 (as shown below). This number has real importance. The origin of the 101 symbol is based not on a number, but is probably a visual representation of the Saturn Polar Configuration (abbreviated here simply as SPC). The SPC was a celestial phenomenon that involved planets descending from their positions in the heavens and arranging themselves overhead Earth. These planets were Saturn, Venus, and Mars. The 1’s in the 101 symbol are based on the crescent of light that appeared below Saturn, with Venus appearing as the 0 (as appreciated here). In ‘The Saturn Myth’ book, David Talbott corresponds the SPC to a gate. This celestial phenomenon is represented by diverse symbols such as the ancient Phoenician Tanit symbol which resembles “101”. It was later adopted by the Masons and represented on their Tracing Boards, where the 0 in the 101 became the Blazing Star and the 1’s became the pillars. Masons, some have argued, are really Gnostics. Considering the interpretation above that the 0 in 101 represents Venus, it’s perhaps unsurprising that in the next scene, Neo follows the white rabbit, which according to various sources, is symbolic of Venus. In his book ‘A Commentary on Book One of the Epigrams of Martial’, British historian, Peter Howell, states: “The white rabbit is symbolic of Venus”. In his book ‘The Hidden Language of Symbols’, Mathew Wilson states: “The rabbit attribute of Venus was developed in antiquity”. In some interpretations, the white rabbit guides souls through the underworld.

Near the start of The Matrix, as Neo enters the building to meet the character Morpheus, he ascends a checkerboard staircase. The checkerboard pattern is a staple on Masonic Tracing Boards (Masons are arguably contemporary Gnostics) and there are various interpretations about what it represents. The common explanation is that the duality of colours is simply another way of expressing a law of unity of opposites, symbolized by the Taoist Yin-Yang. As Neo meets Morpheus, he’s given a choice between a red and blue pill. Taking the red pill is equated with seeking knowledge, even if that knowledge is painful. It represents a desire for freedom from the control of the Matrix’s illusion. In contrast, taking the blue pill represents a choice to remain within a system of control and limited awareness. Obviously, Neo chooses the red pill, starting him on his path to spiritual enlightenment. Notably, the Masonic pillars are sometimes represented as being red and blue. According to whom you speak, the Masonic pillars are associated with various things, such as a duality of consciousness, the reconciliation of opposites, and alchemy. According to Manly Palmer Hall, in his book ‘The Secret Teachings Of All Ages’, the colour red was tied to the enslavement of consciousness. Quote: “In the Greek Mysteries the irrational sphere was always considered as red, for it represented that condition in which the consciousness is enslaved by the passions of lower nature”. It may be a reach, but in this context, Neo taking the red pill could represent him confronting his enslaved consciousness.

About one-hour into The Matrix, Neo’s taken to meet the Oracle, and as she introduces herself, she shows Neo a sign above her door that reads “temet nosce”. This is Latin and apparently means “know thyself”. The phrase has been ascribed to various Greek philosophers, and has long been a cliche in literature and in psychological and religious discourse. To know oneself is a key philosophy in Gnosticism and encapsulated in the Gnostic idea of “gnosis” (which is Greek and means “knowledge”). German theologian, Kurt Rudolph, states: “The famous Delphic slogan “know thyself” is popular in “gnosis” and was employed in numerous ways, especially in the Hermetic Gnostic texts. Just as the Platonic school already interpreted this proverb in the sense of knowledge of the divine soul in man, so here it was understood to mean a knowledge of the divine spirit (nous) which forms the true nature of man, thus his divine nature”. In her book ‘The Gnostic Gospels’, Elaine Pangels tells us: “Yet to know oneself, at the deepest level, is simultaneously to know God — this is the secret of gnosis”. Gnosis is a kind of special knowledge that’s unique to the consciousness. It’s not related to the intellect or belief. It’s not in the form of concepts, dogmas, or books; instead, it’s a kind of conscious knowledge related to the soul, that has to be put into practice so that this special, internal knowledge can grow and build upon itself, and elaborate the creation of the soul. According to Gnostics, the path to salvation is within ourselves and achieved by attaining this divine “gnosis” (or “knowledge”).

In his 1897 book ‘History of Intellectual Development’, British philosopher, John Beattie Crozier, connects the framework of Gnosticism to the reconciliation of opposites represented by the alchemical fusion of Osiris and Isis, stating: “In Gnosticism we have still the same framework of Platonism, but with its great elements connected together by yet another principle of Causation. This time it’s the principle of generation, a principle which operates through pairs of opposites, male and female, and which was adopted from the deities Isis and Osiris”. In some Gnostic systems, Isis, Horus, and Serapis (Osiris) were considered a Trinity, and probably the basis for the Christian Trinity of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God. The name of the female character, Neo’s love interest, Trinity, hence carries Gnostic connotations. The story of Isis and Osiris is an ancient narrative that revolves around the murder of the god Osiris by his brother Seth and the tireless efforts of his sister Isis to resurrect him. We see a similar scenario play out in The Matrix. Smith, representing Seth, kills Neo (Osiris) and Neo is then resurrected by Trinity (Isis). Isis is described as “breathing life” back into Osiris, which is similar to Trinity breathing life back into Neo by kissing him. The Gnostic’s goal is the fusion of the masculine and feminine aspects of creation. This is called the “Great Work” in Gnosticism and Hermeticism. Accomplishing the Great Work represents the culmination of the spiritual path and the fusion of the masculine and feminine. The Wachowski’s (who created The Matrix) have changed their sex (a fusion of the masculine and feminine) emulating the fusion of Osiris and Isis.

The path that led to the Great Work was described by Aleister Crowley (the most famous occultist of the 20th-century) as the “conscious process of spiritual growth” and the “dissolution of ego”. Obviously, Neo undergoes a process of spiritual growth in The Matrix. At the start — Neo’s living a mundane life, unaware of the true nature of the world. His awakening to the reality of the Matrix is akin to a spiritual awakening. He learns that the world he thought was real is an illusion created by machines, and this realization shatters his previous beliefs. Neo’s thirst for truth and understanding drives him to pursue knowledge about the Matrix and his role within it. This quest for truth is a central component of spiritual growth, as individuals seek to uncover the nature of reality and their place in it. Neo also encounters various obstacles within the Matrix, including the formidable Agents (akin to the Gnostic Archons). Overcoming these challenges requires courage, determination, and the willingness to confront one’s fears — a common theme in spiritual growth narratives. Neo also acts superlatively moral when he chooses to save the Matrix at the expense of his own life (in Revolutions). This echoes spiritual themes of altruism and the willingness to give up one’s ego-driven desires for the greater good. In summary, Neo’s journey is a metaphorical representation of spiritual growth and transformation. His pursuit of truth, self-discovery, transcendence, and altruism are common themes in various spiritual and philosophical traditions, and that includes Gnosticism.

In an interview, the Wachowski’s were once asked: “Have you ever been told that The Matrix has Gnostic overtones?”, to which they said: “Would you consider that to be a good thing then?” At its core — The Matrix embodies the Gnostic idea of awakening to a hidden reality beyond the illusion of the material world and Neo’s journey to break free from the Matrix’s control and discover his true potential as “The One” parallels the Gnostic idea of transcending the limitations of the material realm and returning to a higher reality. The movie also incorporates the Gnostic theme of a divine saviour. Neo’s depicted as a Jesus-like character who possesses the power to liberate humanity from the oppression of the Matrix. This parallels Gnostic beliefs in a divine person (sometimes described as Jesus) who brings salvation and enlightenment to human souls trapped in the chains of the material world. The duality between the simulated world of the Matrix and the desolate real-world outside aligns with Gnostic dualism, emphasizing the contrast between the material and spiritual realms. The Matrix itself can be seen as a symbolic representation of the Gnostic concept of the Archons — malevolent beings that manipulate and control the material world. The Agents within the Matrix, particularly Agent Smith, serve as manifestations of these forces. Overall, The Matrix serves as a cinematic masterpiece that resonates strongly with Gnostic philosophy and offers viewers a contemplative journey into the realms of illusion, enlightenment, and the enduring human quest for transcendence.