This article, Computers, Caves, and Oracles: Neo and Socrates, was written by William Irwin. The articles main focus is to relate the lives of the Greek philosopher Socrates, and the main character in the Wachowski brother’s movie trilogy, The Matrix, Neo. Irwin says the Matrix is the retelling of "the greatest story ever told." This "great story" is the story of Socrates life. Neo is directly compared to Socrates in all aspects through out the movies. Neo is told his fate is to be the greatest man alive, just as Socrates is told that he is the wisest man alive. Both of our protagonists do not believe what they are hearing. Neo tells Morpheus that he does not believe he is a great hero and he does not believe that he is ruled by destiny, and in a similar way Socrates says that the oracle is mistaken. Socrates is said to be the wisest man alive, and upon hearing this he tries to disprove it. Both of these oracles have told their prophecies in code, says Irwin. The oracles word can not be taken for exactly what they say to be true. The oracle in the Matrix tells Neo that he is not the one, and the oracle at Delphi tells Socrates' friend that Socrates is the wisest man alive. These are merely a code to help them along the journey. Socrates message encourages him to try to prove that he is not the wisest man alive by finding a man wiser then him, so Socrates asks men who think they are wise questions to see how wise they are. Socrates finds that these men are not wise, and the oracles message that Socrates is the wisest man alive is because he knows he is not wise.

Both of our heroes are said to break the grip of the illusion and free humanity with the truth. Neo breaks free of the grip of the Matrix when he is unplugged by Morpheus and helps do the same with the rest of those who wish to be free, whereas Socrates tells those of Athens, who could not think for themselves rather only follow the society, the truth. In both cases the truth is that there is a higher reality then that of what they know of. For Socrates, as told by his student Plato, we are in a cave and are unable to see the reality of the world, and for Neo the matrix covers up what reality is. We are bound to these false realities and are unable to be free to know what the true reality is. Knowledge is come upon by a recollection of what you once knew. Plato says we forget much of what reality is when our intellect and bodies are combined at birth. The reality in this world is merely a recollection of the true reality.

In the end both Socrates and Neo are killed because of what they have done. Socrates is killed by those he is trying to bring out of the cave so that they too may see the true reality of the world, and Neo is killed for as well for breaking the rules of the society of the cave (the Matrix).