The virtual as the real: ontological considerations on the real and the virtual in the light of classical theism
- It is a widespread view that a virtual digitally designed world is less real than ordinary physically constituted reality. In this paper I will defend the thesis that this view is wrong. A virtual world is as real as the material world – the main difference concerns the ontological structure of each world. Another widespread view is that life in a virtual world would be less valuable than life in the material world because life in the virtual world would amount to a kind of illusion, similar to the scenario presented in a movie like The Matrix. I will argue that this assumption is also wrong. Life in a virtual world can reach as much existential depth as life in the material world and we can strive for values and meaning in the virtual world as much as in the material world. Thus, living in a virtual reality or living in a material world does not make a crucial difference when it comes to living a meaningful human life. In defending these theses, I follow to a good extent the accountIt is a widespread view that a virtual digitally designed world is less real than ordinary physically constituted reality. In this paper I will defend the thesis that this view is wrong. A virtual world is as real as the material world – the main difference concerns the ontological structure of each world. Another widespread view is that life in a virtual world would be less valuable than life in the material world because life in the virtual world would amount to a kind of illusion, similar to the scenario presented in a movie like The Matrix. I will argue that this assumption is also wrong. Life in a virtual world can reach as much existential depth as life in the material world and we can strive for values and meaning in the virtual world as much as in the material world. Thus, living in a virtual reality or living in a material world does not make a crucial difference when it comes to living a meaningful human life. In defending these theses, I follow to a good extent the account of David Chalmers on virtual reality. Finally, I will argue for the thesis that against the background of a classical theistic account of reality, the idea of living in a virtual reality should even be familiar to us. A reality created by God and held in existence by God’s continuous creative activity shows structural parallels to a digitally realized virtual world which is held in existence by a powerful computer program resp. the rational beings running such a program.…
