There are many theories regarding the universe and what it means to truly exist in it. Drawing inspiration from the hit movie ‘The Matrix’, this documentary poses the question of whether or not what we perceive as reality is nothing more than a grand simulation.

The Simulation Hypothesis compares and contrasts the teachings of two ancient Greek philosophers, Democritus and Plato. These two men introduced the ideas of materialism and idealism into philosophical constructs to explain our existence and whether it is borne through a mental or physical process. The film also features interviews with a few of the most prolific theoretical physicists currently alive, some of whom postulate that life is nothing more than a binary series of 0s and 1s

The film is a cerebral journey into some of the most complex and existential questions about reality. It challenges conventional ideas of life itself while attempting to bridge the gap between spirituality and science.

In American Philosopher, the idea that America was founded by philosophers and what they might have foreseen for the nation is examined. McReynolds explores what may be the native philosophy of America and what risks might be involved in practicing it. His ultimate conclusion is that there is indeed an American Philosophy and it is born out of the American experience.

The Nature of Existence is the culmination of Nygard’s attempt to make sense of the great philosophical questions that divide humanity. Nygard, a director with a long and diverse resume, composed a list of his eighty five toughest questions in existence, divided under such headings as Religion, Truth, Science, Suffering, Free Will, Sin and Sex. From renowned biologists and physicists to spiritual leaders from across the entire religious spectrum, from Christian wrestlers to Tibetan monks to Stonehenge Druids, he takes those questions to the ends of the earth. By accruing such a diverse collection of perspectives, he seeks to bring greater depth to a conversation as old as humanity.

In addition to his philosophical work, Sartre was also interested in politics, literary criticism and drama and he became a prominent part of French intellectual life during the 1920s and 30s. He was well-known for his long-term relationship with Simone de Beauvoir, also a prominent philosopher, social theorist and feminist.

Sartre: The Road to Freedom portrays some of the central concepts of Sartre’s philosophy and paints a picture of what the philosopher’s life was like. It is one of the rare documentaries that offers an English-speaking audience a closer look into his life, featuring interviews with de Beauvoir herself.

Heidegger was born in Germany in 1889 and began developing his philosophical ideas around the time that the Nazi party was transforming the country. The film shows how he furthered the teachings of Friedrich Nietzsche, in an attempt to directly confront the central issues of human existence and self-awareness. It also reveals how critics dismissed his works as nothing more than Nazi propaganda and how these accusations against his character may have pushed him to a life of solitude in the rural city of Todtnauberg.

Heidegger: Thinking the Unthinkable follows Heidegger’s life until his death in 1976. It discusses how his teachings have stood the test of time, and mentored men such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Derrida, as well as many other titans of the modern philosophical world.

A gifted young man, Nietzsche was appointed as professor at Switzerland’s Basel University at the age of 24, before even having completed his doctorate. The film explores the intimate details of his tumultuous personal life, his solitude in the mountains, and how the works of Wagner and Schopenhauer shaped his worldview. A vivid portrait is painted of his transition from Christian beliefs, to Nihilistic thinking, before tragically descending into madness.

Nietzsche: Beyond Good And Evil concludes by showing how Nietzsche’s works have gone on to influence the generations that followed him, including various Schools of Thought and, unintentionally, the Nazis. His Elizabeth misappropriated his ideas and interpreted them in a pro-Nazi manner, advancing the concept of the Übermensch master-race.