The following cartoon accompanied the print version of A Justification of Empirical Thinking (Philosophy Now). The article got me to thinking about the Matrix film where Neo is asked whether he wanted to take the blue pill (fabricated reality) vs. the red pill (the truth behind the reality). This fork in the road seems loosely based on a classical philosophical problem, that being Hume’s problem of induction, that is, how do we know whether reality is real? Can we trust our experience of our senses? Or, is this all an illusion as we row, row, row our boats, gently down the stream?
“You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.“
simonandfinn 
Living with uncertainty. I have a feeling that taking the red pill would only affirm this; but it still seems the more interesting choice. (I need to see that movie (again?)!)
Interesting.. so, to take the red pill would affirm reality? And/or uncertainty?
Hang on sec, given the topic of your post, it seems similar to what Descartes was working through in his 1st Meditation, no?
I’m not familiar with Descartes work! This is a very good reason to change that. Thanks for the suggestion!
Noooo! Surely you must have heard and/or read something by Descartes? He is, apparently, one of the most famous and well known. I actually found a very “interesting” translation of his 1st and 2nd meditation here (the language may be a bit, ummm, colourful). Alternatively, the version found here may be a bit suitable for those with sensitive ears.
🙂
I have I swear! But clearly I must learn much, much more!
The language was colourful 🙂 but omigosh that link is funny. And so appropriate to the post, thanks so much for sharing!
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