Fate or Free Will

It is difficult to believe that everything in your life is predetermined. Although Schick does raise some very alarming and well based views on the differences between the belief in fate and the concept of free will. I, myself was raised Christian. Despite the fact that I do not agree with a lot of what has become part of the package deal of organized religion it has instilled a sense of pre-ordained purpose through out my life. I do believe everything happens for a reason.

Events being seen from the present moment can always be back tracked to a series of events that led to that occurrence at that moment. Looking at it through that lens makes it a predetermined event. You can judge it in such a way knowing what caused it but how can you possibly apply that same lens in mapping the future. This is where the possibility of free will comes into play. I think that you can make personal choices that lead you to experience certain events. Although you can rationalize the cause and effect that made that event possible the opportunity to redirect the future effects of the present cause is there. Instead of seeing it as a steady stream of predetermined events I see it more like those chapter books where you decide alternative outcomes by choosing the ending for every chapter.

Free will is the choice you have in every action you take. Sometimes you can predict the outcome of these choices but sometimes it is more like a game of chance. I agree with Immanuel Kant's view that what determines whether you've led a good life is not the kind of experiences you've had, but the kind of choices you've made. A person can also rely on seeing things as fate predetermining their life. In a sense that is also a choice. They've chosen to ignore free will and just take things as they come. My best analysis of the bigger picture is that the events in your life are more of a conglomerate of events you have power over and some events that are just out of your control. I believe a good life is adapting to what you can't change and using your wisdom to judge the choices you can make.

The Metaphysics of the Matrix

When arguing the existence of "The Matrix" or how it is separate from reality you must first understand how to make the distinction between the two. This system of analyzing and categorizing the traits which make them different is known as metaphysics. This method of organized investigation serves as a powerful tool in being able to argue either side. It is fundamental to understand that although there are many similarities it is the relation of their differences that makes their contrast so evident.
In "The Matrix and Philosophy" Jorge Gracia and Jonathan Sanford state that to even begin to distinguish the differences between the real world and "The Matrix" you must first ontologically analyze the source of each characteristic. The 2009 edition of the Random House dictionary defines ontology as the branch of metaphysics that studies the nature of existence or being as such. Essentially, to categorize each characteristic you must find the source or origin. The simplest difference between reality and "The Matrix" is that we do not know what causes reality. "The Matrix" however originates from reality. It was created and functions solely from it's creator. Someone or something had to create the concept and then map it out before producing it and eventually activating it.
Reality exists independently. "The Matrix" however is completely dependant on it's source. Everything in "The Matrix" stems from an order or program that was written for it. The whole concept of it is that it is a complex program that creates a sort of parallel reality. Gracia and Sanford best explain it as viewing each characteristic through the same lens. To know if something is real or not you must know it's source. If it was created by something you already know to be real then it is clearly a production and not real. The source of reality is unknown but you know you exist on the same plain as it and live in it. After all that's all you got