  We explain the motivation and main ideas underlying our proposal for a
Lagrangian for Matrix Theory based on sixteen supercharges. Starting with the
pedagogical example of a bosonic matrix theory we describe the appearance of a
continuum spacetime geometry from a discrete, and noncommutative, spacetime
with both Lorentz and Yang-Mills invariances. We explain the appearance of
large N ground states with Dbranes and elucidate the principle of matrix Dbrane
democracy at finite N. Based on the underlying symmetry algebras that hold at
both finite and infinite N, we show why the supersymmetric matrix Lagrangian we
propose does not belong to the class of supermatrix models which includes the
BFSS and IKKT Matrix Models. We end with a preliminary discussion of a path
integral prescription for the Hartle-Hawking wavefunction of the Universe
derived from Matrix Theory.
