Post by nolanharris on Jun 7, 2015 1:52:05 GMT
1. Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness.
The virtual simulation theory of consciousness asserts that the reality most people believe to be true may in all actuality be false--that what many people think to be conscious may in fact be unconscious projections. To support this theory many philosophers look to dreams and near death experiences, or NDEs. In the the short film “The Disneyland of Consciousness: Exploring the Animatronic Image”, professor Lane argues, “in a strong dream so many characters come alive when we interactive as if each of them were real, only when we wake up do we acknowledge that every thing that occurred in the dream was simulated by us.” In essence, the virtual simulation theory of consciousness argues that while most people acknowledge the existence of a virtual reality, they mistakenly limit it to dreams, thinking reality outside of dreams is “ontologically apart from our own neuron projections” (The Disneyland of Consciousness). Many philosophers, including Cerebral Mirage author Andrea Diem-Lane, believe that it is this error in thinking that causes people to confuse unconscious projections with real ones when explanations like “it was just a dream” do not suffice, such is in cases of NDEs--where familiar beings or ancestors reportedly appear to people.
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
The brain has tricked us into believing that we are living in the real world and not a virtual one, which has been extremely beneficial to the genetic survival of mankind. Because the human brain has adopted a conscious, or virtual simulator, humans are able to do things that animals that lack a conscious cannot. For instance, humans can make choices. Additionally, humans can choose their best options for survival hypothetically, or without putting themselves in actual harm. Professor Lane expounds on this point in the short film Brain Burn: Consciousness as a Virtual Simulator where he states, “In imagination, in consciousness, you can play as if it is real and project all sorts of endgame earnings to see which one would be to your advantage.”Unlike humans, animals without a conscious are not afforded this luxury. The actions they take are usually out of instinct and such are very threatening to their survival. Contrary to animals without a conscious, humans’ choices are usually made in a virtual world where there is very little danger--this has only benefited their genetic survival.
The virtual simulation theory of consciousness asserts that the reality most people believe to be true may in all actuality be false--that what many people think to be conscious may in fact be unconscious projections. To support this theory many philosophers look to dreams and near death experiences, or NDEs. In the the short film “The Disneyland of Consciousness: Exploring the Animatronic Image”, professor Lane argues, “in a strong dream so many characters come alive when we interactive as if each of them were real, only when we wake up do we acknowledge that every thing that occurred in the dream was simulated by us.” In essence, the virtual simulation theory of consciousness argues that while most people acknowledge the existence of a virtual reality, they mistakenly limit it to dreams, thinking reality outside of dreams is “ontologically apart from our own neuron projections” (The Disneyland of Consciousness). Many philosophers, including Cerebral Mirage author Andrea Diem-Lane, believe that it is this error in thinking that causes people to confuse unconscious projections with real ones when explanations like “it was just a dream” do not suffice, such is in cases of NDEs--where familiar beings or ancestors reportedly appear to people.
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
The brain has tricked us into believing that we are living in the real world and not a virtual one, which has been extremely beneficial to the genetic survival of mankind. Because the human brain has adopted a conscious, or virtual simulator, humans are able to do things that animals that lack a conscious cannot. For instance, humans can make choices. Additionally, humans can choose their best options for survival hypothetically, or without putting themselves in actual harm. Professor Lane expounds on this point in the short film Brain Burn: Consciousness as a Virtual Simulator where he states, “In imagination, in consciousness, you can play as if it is real and project all sorts of endgame earnings to see which one would be to your advantage.”Unlike humans, animals without a conscious are not afforded this luxury. The actions they take are usually out of instinct and such are very threatening to their survival. Contrary to animals without a conscious, humans’ choices are usually made in a virtual world where there is very little danger--this has only benefited their genetic survival.