David Chalmers, Professor of Philosophy and Neural Science at NYU, joins us to discuss his newest book Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
-Virtual reality as genuine reality
-Why VR is compatible with the good life
-Why we can never know whether we're in a simulation
-Consciousness in virtual realities
-The ethics of simulated beings
You can find the page for the podcast here: https://futureoflife.org/2022/01/26/david-chalmers-on-reality-virtual-worlds-and-the-problems-of-philosophy/
Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hePEg_h90KI
Check out David's book and website here: http://consc.net/
Follow Lucas on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/lucasfmperry
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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:43 How this books fits into David's philosophical journey
9:40 David's favorite part(s) of the book
12:04 What is the thesis of the book?
14:00 The core areas of philosophy and how they fit into Reality+
16:48 Techno-philosophy
19:38 What is "virtual reality?"
21:06 Why is virtual reality "genuine reality?"
25:27 What is the dust theory and what's it have to do with the simulation hypothesis?
29:59 How does the dust theory fit in with arguing for virtual reality as genuine reality?
34:45 Exploring criteria for what it means for something to be real
42:38 What is the common sense view of what is real?
46:19 Is your book intended to address common sense intuitions about virtual reality?
48:51 Nozick's experience machine and how questions of value fit in
54:20 Technological implementations of virtual reality
58:40 How does consciousness fit into all of this?
1:00:18 Substrate independence and if classical computers can be conscious
1:02:35 How do problems of identity fit into virtual reality?
1:04:54 How would David upload himself?
1:08:00 How does the mind body problem fit into Reality+?
1:11:40 Is consciousness the foundation of value?
1:14:23 Does your moral theory affect whether you can live a good life in a virtual reality?
1:17:20 What does a good life in virtual reality look like?
1:19:08 David's favorite VR experiences
1:20:42 What is the moral status of simulated people?
1:22:38 Will there be unconscious simulated people with moral patiency?
1:24:41 Why we can never know we're not in a simulation
1:27:56 David's credences for whether we live in a simulation
1:30:29 Digital physics and what is says about the simulation hypothesis
1:35:21 Imperfect realism and how David sees the world after writing Reality+
1:37:51 David's thoughts on God
1:39:42 Moral realism or anti-realism?
1:40:55 Where to follow David and find Reality+
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