- In-The-Vat Hypothesis: An Argument Analysis

According to an article in the British Journal of Psychology (1997), individuals participated in experiments that allowed them to view a slanted circular disc that was made of radiant material and placed in a dim room (Taylor & Mitchell). When attempting to match a computerized image of the item, they failed because of their knowledge of circles. In this case, it seemed that the acquired information affected their judgment so they did not trust what they saw. Additionally, other studies have shown that children "draw what they know to be present instead of what they see from their current perspective" (Taylor & Flavell, 1984). In both cases, these individuals utilized their perceived knowledge of reality to interpret their sensory experiences even though it was misleading.

More to the point, there is a question of whether one can be certain that these experiences are a reality, a figment of the imagination, or simply transformed data. As it relates to transformed data, Hilary Putnam, an American philosopher, emphasized that in any given situation, a person has no idea if they are truly drinking a cup of coffee or if this is inputted data from a computerized system (Smart, 2004, pg.237). This theory, known as the "Brain-in-the-Vat Hypothesis" or "Evil Demon Hypothesis", is the premise in The Matrix (1999) as it brings to light the question of reality (Foreman, 2015, pg. 3). Furthermore, Plato's work, The Republic and Rene Descartes', Meditation I of the Things of Which We may Doubt, view the question of reality. While The Matrix and Mediation I have similarities as opposed to The Republic, they all fall short in arriving to a certainty of reality and truth, since they do not address or recognize the absolute