Determinism

One of the reasons why I like this movie so much is because of it's discussion's on Determinism.

Merovingian: ...You see, there is only one constant, one universal, it is the only real truth: causality. Action. Reaction. Cause and effect.

Morpheus: Everything begins with choice.

Merovingian: No. Wrong. Choice is an illusion, created between those with power, and those without. .....  This is the nature of the universe. We struggle against it, we fight to deny it, but it is of course pretense, it is a lie. Beneath our poised appearance, the truth is we are completely out of control. Causality. There is no escape from it, we are forever slaves to it. Our only hope, our only peace is to understand it, to understand the `why.' `Why' is what separates us from them, you from me. `Why' is the only real social power, without it you are powerless.

But does that mean we might as well just stay in bed?  Well no, to reference a reasonably articulate webpage (http://home.lbcc.cc.ca.us/~mlawrence/Splinter_files/Watching%20Matrix.htm):

Ghost’s Compatibilism: While most people tend to think that either free will or causal determinism is true (but not both), Ghost offers a different perspective in the video clips from Enter the Matrix. He says: “You know me Niobe, it’s not a choice, it’s a way of life.” Ghost seems to suggest that his character determines his action. Like the Merovingian, he believes that cannot do otherwise.  But Ghost does not regard this as a restriction upon his freedom. Since he does what he most wants to do, he sees himself as free and causally determined at the same time.

 

For me, It's a mix of Ghost and Merovingian.  "It's not a choice, it's a way of life."  Although I perceive many things to be choices, and I proceed to "make the choice", I wouldn't be surprised to find out that it's all just an illusion.