"Which brings us to the 'why,' as the Merovingian might say. "

arlen holder

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Mar 1, 2019, 3:13:26 PM3/1/19

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What does the question of "why" have to do with Merovingians?

Here is the direct quote:
"Which brings us to the 'why,' as the Merovingian might say. "
<https://www.androidauthority.com/arm-cortex-core-custom-core-kryo-explained-664777/>

What does _that_ mean?

I realize the "Merovingians" are the precursor "dynasties" of France.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merovingian_dynasty>

But I don't understand (yet) how that statement makes sense to anyone.

What does the question of "why" have to do with Merovingians?

Witziges Rätsel

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Mar 1, 2019, 3:34:44 PM3/1/19

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Weren't the Merovingians famously and frequently baffled by the
reasons attributed to current events and kept asking, "Why?" as though
somebody in their vicinity would finally care to offer answers?

Ross

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Mar 1, 2019, 4:48:01 PM3/1/19

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Probly has something to do with this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minor_characters_in_the_Matrix_series#Merovingian

CDB

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Mar 1, 2019, 4:54:35 PM3/1/19

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On 3/1/2019 3:13 PM, arlen holder wrote:

It appears to be a reference to the "Matrix" movies. "The Merovingian"
is some kind of incarnate (?) computer program.

"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’.” [The Merovingian stands up from the table]"

https://www.bayesianspectacles.org/the-merovingian-or-why-probability-belongs-wholly-to-the-mind/

Maybe somebody who has seen those films will explain further.

Sam Plusnet

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Mar 1, 2019, 8:29:40 PM3/1/19

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Can we then say arlen holder is a Merovingian?

--
Sam Plusnet

J. J. Lodder

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Mar 2, 2019, 5:01:25 AM3/2/19

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Not 'the Merovingians', 'the Merovingian',

Jan

arlen holder

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Mar 2, 2019, 11:07:36 AM3/2/19

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On Fri, 1 Mar 2019 16:54:27 -0500, CDB wrote:

> It appears to be a reference to the "Matrix" movies. "The Merovingian"

Thanks for that critical pointer everyone ... as I had been errantly
digging into the Frankish Merovech instead of the Matrix Merovingian to
find the meaning of the statement "which brings us to the why".

Interestingly, even _with_ that clue-by-four, it's still not easy to locate
relevant reverence to the "why" on the net, even as I do agree the quote
_must_ be referencing the behavior of that specific Matrix Merovingian.

I think the reference to "why" is explained here:
<https://www.quora.com/In-The-Matrix-Reloaded-what-is-the-Merovingian-talking-about-during-the-lunch-with-Neo-Trinity-Morpheus>

"The Merovingian is representing a program's viewpoint regarding the
question of Free Will. A program has no free will, and many people
also feel that all behavior – including human behavior – is determined
and therefore predictable. The root of all power is in understanding
'*ze why' of our choices*, the true causes of things that happen',
Morpheus insists that we still have choices, and Merv pompously
dismisses that notion as the illusion of those who have no knowledge
of the reasons (no power)."

Summarized in that reference is this shorter version:
"In his causality speech, he stresses the importance of understanding
why things happen ('*why is the only real source of power*,
without it you are powerless')"

Apparently the specific scene is described here:
<https://nigerianphilosopher.wordpress.com/tag/the-matrix-reloaded-the-merovingian-illusion-of-choice-cause-and-effect/>

"(Inhales)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 Why. Why is what separates us from them, you from me?
*Why is the only real source of power*, without it you are powerless.
And this is how you come to me? Without why, without power?
Another link in the chain."

With the underlying meaning described below that:
"Merovingian maintains that no man is free of the deciding influence
that causes us to choose to act in a certain way (effect). And that the
only path to peace and individual power is to understand
*why we do the things we do*"

Thanks for that critical pointer everyone ... as I had been errantly
digging into the Frankish Merovech instead of the Matrix Merovingian to
find the meaning of the statement "which brings us to the why".