‘A Glitch in the Matrix’ poses the question from the iconic film

February 7, 2021 Luisa Rey

A Glitch in the Matrix asks the reality-breaking question ‘are we living in a simulation’? The documentary follows some believers and their search for the truth.

Do we live in a simulation? It is a question that many a philosopher, sci-fi writer and Elon Musk asks. This is also the case with the documentary ‘A Glitch in the Matrix’ by Rodney Ascher. The renowned documentary maker poses the question to several believers and tries to bring the concept from The Matrix (1999) to reality. But what is reality when everything is a simulation?

A Glitch in the Matrix

A Glitch in the Matrix doesn’t accidentally have the word ‘Matrix’ in the title. Several generations were exposed (perhaps subconsciously) by the iconic film to the theory that we all live in an advanced simulation. In The Matrix this is done to suppress humanity; we serve as a battery for the robots and our consciousness keeps going through the matrix.

Many (amateur) philosophers, on the other hand, have thought for centuries before The Matrix that this is not far from reality. The subjects in the documentary, as well as geniuses like Elon Musk and even Neil DeGrasse Tyson, believe to a certain extent in simulation theory.

Since technology develops exponentially and computer computing power is going crazy, they believe that we will be able to run advanced simulations in the future; games that cannot be distinguished from reality. These simulations are so complex that the programs (us) become self-aware.

Believers also believe that we live in such an advanced simulation, possibly running on computers of life forms that are inconceivably more complex than us. Musk thinks our reality is nothing more than a video game. Some believers even think that we as characters are controlled by alien life forms in such a game.

But as with many of these theories, you shouldn’t think too far; that gives you a headache. After all, what happens when our simulation creates a simulation, which creates a simulation? Couldn’t the reality of our alien master also be a simulation? And who then created that simulation?

Whether you think it is an absurd figment of the imagination or a plausible theory; the documentary is definitely recommended for people who find the suggested question interesting. A Glitch in the Matrix is out now. Check out the trailer below: