Philosophy of Film: From Illusion to Reality

Abstract

This article examines film as a philosophical space that bridges illusion and experiential reality. It draws upon Plato’s allegory of the cave, Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of embodied perception, and Nietzsche’s concept of value creation, alongside Buddhist notions of impermanence, non-self, and emptiness. Employing philosophical and hermeneutic analysis, the study interprets selected films—The Matrix, Inception, and The Truman Show—as cinematic worlds that challenge conventional assumptions about perception, identity, and reality.

The findings suggest that film is not merely entertainment but a form of thought experiment that reveals the constructed nature of reality through aesthetic illusion. Cinematic experience invites viewers to participate in meaning-making, transforming illusion into reflective insight. Mindful film viewing can therefore function as a form of aesthetic meditation, guiding the viewer from sensory fascination toward philosophical and spiritual awareness.