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Reality+ : virtual worlds and the problems of philosophy / David J. Chalmers ; illustrations by Tim Peacock.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: New York, NY : W. W. Norton & Company, [2022]Copyright date: ©2022Edition: First editionDescription: xxiv, 520 pages : illustrations ; 24 cmContent type:
  • text
  • still image
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9780393635805
  • 0393635805
Other title:
  • Reality plus
Subject(s):
Contents:
Introduction: Adventures in technophilosophy -- Part 1: Virtual worlds. Is this the real life? -- What is the simulation hypothesis? -- Part 2: Knowledge. Do we know things? -- Can we prove there is an external world? -- Is it likely that we're in a simulation? -- Part 3: Reality. What is reality? -- Is God a hacker in the next universe up? -- Is the universe made of information? -- Did simulation create its from bits? -- Part 4: Real virtual reality. Do virtual reality headsets create reality? -- Are virtual reality devices illusion machines? -- Does augmented reality lead to alternative facts? -- Can we avoid being deceived by deepfakes? -- Part 5: Mind. How do mind and body interact in a virtual world? -- Can there be consciousness in a digital world? -- Does augmented reality extend the mind? -- Part 6: Value. Can you lead a good life in a virtual world? -- Do simulated lives matter? -- How should we build a virtual society? -- Part 7: Foundations. What do our words mean in virtual worlds? -- Do dust clouds run computer programs? -- Is reality a mathematical structure? -- Have we fallen from the Garden of Eden? -- Are we Boltzmann brains in a dream world?
Summary: "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 argues that virtual worlds generated by computers are not second-class worlds. We can live a meaningful life in virtual reality. We may even be living in a computer simulation already-and if we are, that's not so bad. What is reality, anyway? How do we know there's an external world? What's the relation between mind and body? How can we lead a good life? Is there a god? In Reality+, Chalmers conducts a grand tour of philosophy, using virtual worlds to illuminate all of these questions and to provide new answers to many of them. Studded with illustrations that bring philosophical issues to life, Reality+ is a major statement that will shape discussion of philosophy and technology for years to come"-- Provided by publisher.
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library NonFiction 006.8 C438 Available 33111010783377
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

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.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 471-503) and index.

"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 argues that virtual worlds generated by computers are not second-class worlds. We can live a meaningful life in virtual reality. We may even be living in a computer simulation already-and if we are, that's not so bad. What is reality, anyway? How do we know there's an external world? What's the relation between mind and body? How can we lead a good life? Is there a god? In Reality+, Chalmers conducts a grand tour of philosophy, using virtual worlds to illuminate all of these questions and to provide new answers to many of them. Studded with illustrations that bring philosophical issues to life, Reality+ is a major statement that will shape discussion of philosophy and technology for years to come"-- Provided by publisher.

Introduction: Adventures in technophilosophy -- Part 1: Virtual worlds. Is this the real life? -- What is the simulation hypothesis? -- Part 2: Knowledge. Do we know things? -- Can we prove there is an external world? -- Is it likely that we're in a simulation? -- Part 3: Reality. What is reality? -- Is God a hacker in the next universe up? -- Is the universe made of information? -- Did simulation create its from bits? -- Part 4: Real virtual reality. Do virtual reality headsets create reality? -- Are virtual reality devices illusion machines? -- Does augmented reality lead to alternative facts? -- Can we avoid being deceived by deepfakes? -- Part 5: Mind. How do mind and body interact in a virtual world? -- Can there be consciousness in a digital world? -- Does augmented reality extend the mind? -- Part 6: Value. Can you lead a good life in a virtual world? -- Do simulated lives matter? -- How should we build a virtual society? -- Part 7: Foundations. What do our words mean in virtual worlds? -- Do dust clouds run computer programs? -- Is reality a mathematical structure? -- Have we fallen from the Garden of Eden? -- Are we Boltzmann brains in a dream world?

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