The Thought Experiments of Virtual Reality

The Thought Experiments of Virtual Reality

The Matrix is iconic for introducing ideas of philosophical skepticism to a broad audience. By philosophical skepticism, we refer to philosophical views that question the possibility of knowledge. The question that Matrix poses can be framed as follows: “Can we know that we are not, in fact, in a simulation?”

Who Will Own The Metaverse?

Who Will Own The Metaverse?

Metaverse [mɛtəˌvɜːs] (noun) A shared, persistent, virtual, collective space—created by a convergence of virtual reality technologies and the Internet. From Meta (popular speech: beyond, higher, transcendental) and Universe (all that exists in time and space.) Since the beginning of the World Wide Web nearly thirty years…
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A Virtual Masquerade

A Virtual Masquerade

In 18th century Paris, for the Friday evening thrill, you could attend a Masquerade—a social event where guests wore masks to conceal their identity. The masquerades were socially perceived as liberating and stimulating, as you could leave your original identity behind—that old toil you have…
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The Virtually Extended Mind

The Virtually Extended Mind

Virtual Reality technology is wonderful for a philosopher because it brings alive some of the greatest philosophical questions — David Chalmers In the installment from which the above quote was taken, the distinguished philosopher and consciousness researcher goes on to mention Descartes’ suspicion of the external world…
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The Existential Problem of VR

The Existential Problem of VR

Søren Kierkegaard, the father of Existentialism, famously described anxiety, or angst, as the dizziness of freedom. Hardly a cheerful fellow—though his brilliant, satirical wit often forces one to smile—Kierkegaard clearly was no stranger to this “dizziness” he so often spoke of: I see it all perfectly; there…
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From Thought to Reality

From Thought to Reality

VR has the capability of enchanting us. It has the power to introduce us to virtual worlds — and represent our designs in ‘the format of reality’. The content appears non-mediated, something Metzinger relates to the «phenomenal transparency» of the mind — we see «through…
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