Get Real: A Philosophical Adventure in Virtual Reality

By Philip Zhai

Is virtual reality merely a video game that consumes and distracts the player immersed in its simulations? Or is it an immaterial world, rich in meaning, beckoning people to a better future world inside computers? In Get Real: A Philosophical Adventure in Virtual Reality, Philip Zhai tackles these questions with keen logical analysis and concludes by advocating a stance that transcends these two opposing view of virtual reality. Zhai argues that the combination of three technologies-digital simulation, sensory immersion, and functional teleoperation-in a well-coordinated manner amounts to a re-creation of the whole empirically perceived universe. His analysis of the nature and significance of this re-creation is eye-opening and completely original. This book will be invaluable to philosophers of science, philosophers of mind and anyone interested in technology's growing impact on our lives and minds. The thought experiments in the book are mind-stretching and enlightenling, and make abstract concepts interesting and tangible.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0847689832
• ISBN13: 9780847689835
• Release Date: May 1998
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

The Most Convincing Argument

I have never thought possible that thought experiments can guide us through a philosophical adventure in such an exciting manner. Zhai's argument that most of cognitive scientists have committed a "Fallacy of Unity Projection" is right to the point and seems to me to have conclusively ruled out the possibility of Strong AI. I agree with the previous reviewer that the argument against Strong AI in Zhai's book is carefully crafted and has the first two chapters prepare the way for it. I would like to see more of the discussion of the implications of VR for the foundation of civilization, though.

I meant to rate it 5 star

I wondered why my review was cut. I said chapters 1 and 2 prepare the starting point for the discussion of Strong AI in chapter 4, and that further invalidates Tosh's comments.