Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of PhilosophyOne of the Washington Post's Best Nonfiction Books of 2022 Virtual reality is genuine reality; that’s the central thesis of Reality+. In a highly original work of “technophilosophy,” David J. Chalmers gives a compelling analysis of our technological future. He argues that virtual worlds are not second-class worlds, and that we can live a meaningful life in virtual reality. We may even be in a virtual world already. Along the way, Chalmers conducts a grand tour of big ideas in philosophy and science. He uses virtual reality technology to offer a new perspective on long-established philosophical questions. How do we know that there’s an external world? Is there a god? What is the nature of reality? What’s the relation between mind and body? How can we lead a good life? All of these questions are illuminated or transformed by Chalmers’ mind-bending analysis. Studded with illustrations that bring philosophical issues to life, Reality+ is a major statement that will shape discussion of philosophy, science, and technology for years to come. |
Contents
What is the simulation hypothesis? | |
Do we know things? | |
Can we prove there is an external world? | |
What is reality? | |
Is God a hacker in the next universe | |
Do virtual reality headsets create reality? | |
How do mind and body interact in a virtual world? | |
Can there be consciousness in a digital world? | |
Can you lead a good life in a virtual world? | |
Do simulated lives matter? | |
What do our words mean in virtual worlds? | |
Do dust clouds run computer programs? | |
Have we fallen from the Garden of Eden? | |
Are we Boltzmann brains in a dream world? | |
Are virtual reality devices illusion machines? | |
Does augmented reality lead to alternative facts? | |
Can we avoid being deceived by deepfakes? | |
Acknowledgments | |
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Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy David John Chalmers No preview available - 2023 |