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Thread: Matrix Question - Was The Architect Evil?

  1. #1

    Default Matrix Question - Was The Architect Evil?



    This is something I always wondered about. As the creator of the titular Matrix, he's kinda the main bad dude until Smith starts ruining everyone's trout for both humans and machines. Yet I detected absolutely no....uh....feeling in him. Yes he is a machine but the whole point is that Matrix machines evolved to think for themselves and programs in The Matrix can obviously think, feel and evolve. They're just as sapient or sentient or whatever as the humans.

    But I didn't get that impression from. He was just performing his task, his purpose if you will.

    So should he be considered malevolent?

  2. #2

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    He may be sentient but he is still a being of more or less pure logic. As such his actions reflect the simplest means in achieving his primary goal: to maintain the existence of his "species" at the cost of all else. Many mass-murdering leaders have led or intended to lead peaceful kingdoms.
    Jack: How do you know?

    Will: It's more of a feeling really.

    Jack: Well, that's not scientific. Feeling isn't knowing. Feeling is believing. If you believe it, you can't know because there's no knowing what you believe. Then again, no one should believe what they know either. Once you know anything that anything becomes unbelievable if only by virtue of the fact you now... know it. You know?

    Will: No.

    If Demolition Man were remade today

    Huxley: What's wrong? You broke contact.
    Spartan: Contact? I didn't even touch you.
    Huxley: Don't you want to make love?
    Spartan: Is that what you call this? Why don't we just do it the old-fashioned way?
    Huxley: NO!
    Spartan: Whoa! Okay, calm down.
    Huxley: Don't tell me to calm down!
    Spartan: What's gotten into you? 'Cause it sure as hell wasn't me.
    Huxley: Physical relations in the way of intercourse are no longer acceptable John Spartan.
    Spartan: What? Why the hell not?
    Huxley: It's the law, John. And for your information, the very idea that you suggested it makes me feel personally violated.
    Spartan: Wait a minute... violated? Huxley what the hell are you accusing me of here?
    Huxley: You need to leave, John.
    Spartan: But Huxley.
    Huxley: Get out!
    Moments later Spartan is arrested for "violating" Huxley.

    By the way, that's called satire. Get over it.

  3. #3
    Eggstreme Wheelie Recognized Member Jiro's Avatar
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    Don't reckon he was evil. I don't reckon any character in the Matrix is evil. I'd chalk it up to personal motivations clashing.

    They see me rolling. They hating, patrolling.
    Trying to catch me riding dirty.


  4. #4
    Recognized Member Shorty's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mercen-X View Post
    He may be sentient but he is still a being of more or less pure logic. As such his actions reflect the simplest means in achieving his primary goal: to maintain the existence of his "species" at the cost of all else. Many mass-murdering leaders have led or intended to lead peaceful kingdoms.
    Mercen-X articulated my feelings well. I don't believe he was evil. I believe that evil implies that one has sinister intentions.

  5. #5
    tech spirit
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    He's not any more evil that a human who controls the population of wild animals to make it easier for humans to prosper. Which might also be the point of putting him in the movie, perhaps.

    Humans are their livestock, but because humans are a bit smarter than most other animals, I guess it takes a bit more work to pacify them. Thus, the Matrix, and the cycle of letting the few humans that don't accept it live in an eternal cycle of false hope.

    If any of you have seen the animatrix shorts, you'll know that the humans were the real badguys. No, of course I am not biased.
    everything is wrapped in gray
    i'm focusing on your image
    can you hear me in the void?

  6. #6

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    On the other hand, I believe Agent Smith's corrupted programming led him into straight up evilz territory. There's nothing more evil than a virus. What's more, Smith frequently expressed the desire to harm Neo and erase humanity as well as a general disgust for their emotions and senses. No denying it.
    Jack: How do you know?

    Will: It's more of a feeling really.

    Jack: Well, that's not scientific. Feeling isn't knowing. Feeling is believing. If you believe it, you can't know because there's no knowing what you believe. Then again, no one should believe what they know either. Once you know anything that anything becomes unbelievable if only by virtue of the fact you now... know it. You know?

    Will: No.

    If Demolition Man were remade today

    Huxley: What's wrong? You broke contact.
    Spartan: Contact? I didn't even touch you.
    Huxley: Don't you want to make love?
    Spartan: Is that what you call this? Why don't we just do it the old-fashioned way?
    Huxley: NO!
    Spartan: Whoa! Okay, calm down.
    Huxley: Don't tell me to calm down!
    Spartan: What's gotten into you? 'Cause it sure as hell wasn't me.
    Huxley: Physical relations in the way of intercourse are no longer acceptable John Spartan.
    Spartan: What? Why the hell not?
    Huxley: It's the law, John. And for your information, the very idea that you suggested it makes me feel personally violated.
    Spartan: Wait a minute... violated? Huxley what the hell are you accusing me of here?
    Huxley: You need to leave, John.
    Spartan: But Huxley.
    Huxley: Get out!
    Moments later Spartan is arrested for "violating" Huxley.

    By the way, that's called satire. Get over it.

  7. #7
    Famine Wolf Recognized Member Sephex's Avatar
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    The character mostly felt like he was simply there to just do his job and that's that. He was very droll and bored sounding (not saying that was a bad thing), and that kind of tone is the ultimate signifier of "just here doin' my job."

  8. #8
    tech spirit
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    Mirage Askai (Sargatanas)

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mercen-X View Post
    On the other hand, I believe Agent Smith's corrupted programming led him into straight up evilz territory. There's nothing more evil than a virus. What's more, Smith frequently expressed the desire to harm Neo and erase humanity as well as a general disgust for their emotions and senses. No denying it.
    Too bad for him that disgust is an emotion.
    everything is wrapped in gray
    i'm focusing on your image
    can you hear me in the void?

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    Gobbledygook! Recognized Member Christmas's Avatar
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    He reminds me of Garland from FF IX.

    With more hair though.

    On the head, not between the legs btw.

  10. #10
    Gobbledygook! Recognized Member Christmas's Avatar
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    The latest movie is WTF.

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