Most of us have a hidden talent that we trot out from time to time. Maybe you bake amazing cupcakes or you play the piano—but chances are, those are things you do on the weekends or at family parties.

In a scene from The Matrix, the film's protagonist, Neo, meets the Oracle. The Oracle refers to a source of wisdom—often a prophet, visionary, or sage—who can foresee the future. In philosophy, such ...