Name: Reality +
Rating: 3.875 (4 reviews)
ISBN: 9780241320716

David Chalmers

A Philosophical Journey Through Virtual Worlds

Reality +

David J. Chalmers

A leading philosopher takes a mind-bending journey through virtual worlds, illuminating the nature of reality and our place within it. 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.

Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy

Reality+

Greg Talbot

Meditating on existence and the nature of God, Descartes immortal words “ergo sum” used a scientific reasoning to arrive at a metaphysical worldview. Transplanting Descartes to our times, he would have to wonder how selfhood and reality survive against modern scrutiny. The reasoning might include a long list of footnotes, and some references to David Chalmers “Reality+” Chalmers investigated central philosophical questions such as “the nature of reality”; “how can we know about the world” and “what is the difference between good and bad” (p.17); and questions how virtual worlds change our perception of these questions. “Virtual realities are genuine realities… not illusions of fictions, or at least they need not be. “(p.xvii). The dreamlike parables of Plato’s Cave or Zhuangzi’s Butterfly are a reminder that our self-questioning is as old as consciousness itself. One of the biggest reckoners with perceived reality is simulation theory. Pop culture is full of Marvel Heroes, and metaphysical travelers (The Matrix (1999); Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)) that reckon with the self moving through various realties governed by a larger architecture. Something of a simulation or a metaverse. Given that we are moving deeper into augmented and virtual realities through gaming platforms, and social experiences (VR headwear), the immersive lived-in experience is closer to an experiential reality. Chalmers investigates the various fronts of this virtual reality, and make us reconsider how we experience our “normal experience”. Moving into information theory and structuralism, we start to consider the “it-from-bit” worldview. Building on Leibniz’s work, reality can be structured with mathematics, and observed in physical action. Moving into virtual realms, built from bits, we can encounter the framework of programmability. We may perceive order from God or a great programmer, but either way, we can begin to understand the mechanisms of biology (ourselves) and mechanisms of physics (reality), to a point where reality is a creation project of transistors, databases, interfaces and imagination. Although Chalmers explores the central ideas of philosophy with the added lens of virtual reality, I think he could have shared more ideas on how our culture could change. The questions of “virtue” and “living a meaningful live” are explored with something of a tech utopianism. I share the excitement and excitement for this world to come, but also wonder about the deleterious effects of VR living. Consider Web 2.0 trolling, bullying, alienation, conspiratorial thinking and disunity. Certainly some of this is explored with the fears of “deep fakes” and authentication issues within VR worlds. I think there are all kinds of ethical and relationship issues that could be explored more deeply, but perhaps it’s just for another book. All and all a riveting, overwhelming and thought provoking book.

A clever book that illustrates a large body of philosophical ideas through the lens of modern technology. Not too modest a task. This brain in a vat connected to the simulation found the book time well spent. 

Adam Scharf

David Mendes

'Reading it will change the way you think about the universe' Sean Carroll In the coming decades, the technology that enables virtual and augmented reality will improve beyond recognition. Within a century, world-renowned philosopher David J. Chalmers predicts, we will have virtual worlds that are impossible to distinguish from non-virtual worlds. But is virtual reality just escapism? In a highly original work of 'technophilosophy', Chalmers argues categorically, no: virtual reality is genuine reality. Virtual worlds are not second-class worlds. We can live a meaningful life in virtual reality - and increasingly, we will. What is reality, anyway? How can we lead a good life? Is there a god? How do we know there's an external world - and how do we know we're not living in a computer simulation? In Reality+, Chalmers conducts a grand tour of philosophy, using cutting-edge technology to provide invigorating new answers to age-old questions. Drawing on examples from pop culture, literature and film that help bring philosophical issues to life, Reality+ is a mind-bending journey through virtual worlds, illuminating the nature of reality and our place within it.

Reality + A Philosophical Journey Through Virtual Worlds

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