Post by melody on Apr 4, 2016 6:03:18 GMT
1. Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness.
The virtual simulation theory of consciousness is about how human brain can simulate scenarios based on past experiences through the five senses, which is hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste, without actually performing the act. As stated in the book Is the Universe an App, "Neuroscience has more or less established that the brain is a simulator par excellence and that what we see, hear, touch, and smell are the results of how our central nervous system processes both external and internal stimuli and then reconstructs a virtual environment in which we react accordingly. Simply put, the reality we experience is part and parcel a simulation and may or may not correlate (at differing times and differing places) with what we believe exists externally from ourselves" (Is the Universe an App, Page 106). Therefore, it allow us to play out all sorts of different scenarios in our head first to determine which action we should do.
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
The brain tricks us into believing what played out in our head is real, and therefore making us to choose based on what we see in our head. In the book, it states "the brain tricks us into believing its own machinations as something that is not sui generis. All this trickery does serve one underlying purpose: keeping our organism intact long enough to recapitulate itself" (Is the Universe an App, Page 102). Doing so, gives us competitive advantages which makes human being different than other organisms. "Because any idea that can jar us from complacency and force us to think anew about reality is helpful to consciousness that evolved to play out competing scenarios" (Is the Universe an App, Page 113). Also as stated in the book, "Any organism that can “virtually simulate” varying options within itself before outsourcing them in a real, empirical world has a tremendous advantage over creatures who lack such a simulacrum Rolodex" (Is the Universe an App, Page 140)
Reference
MSAC Philosophy Group. Is the Universe an App. Walnut, 2014.
The virtual simulation theory of consciousness is about how human brain can simulate scenarios based on past experiences through the five senses, which is hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste, without actually performing the act. As stated in the book Is the Universe an App, "Neuroscience has more or less established that the brain is a simulator par excellence and that what we see, hear, touch, and smell are the results of how our central nervous system processes both external and internal stimuli and then reconstructs a virtual environment in which we react accordingly. Simply put, the reality we experience is part and parcel a simulation and may or may not correlate (at differing times and differing places) with what we believe exists externally from ourselves" (Is the Universe an App, Page 106). Therefore, it allow us to play out all sorts of different scenarios in our head first to determine which action we should do.
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
The brain tricks us into believing what played out in our head is real, and therefore making us to choose based on what we see in our head. In the book, it states "the brain tricks us into believing its own machinations as something that is not sui generis. All this trickery does serve one underlying purpose: keeping our organism intact long enough to recapitulate itself" (Is the Universe an App, Page 102). Doing so, gives us competitive advantages which makes human being different than other organisms. "Because any idea that can jar us from complacency and force us to think anew about reality is helpful to consciousness that evolved to play out competing scenarios" (Is the Universe an App, Page 113). Also as stated in the book, "Any organism that can “virtually simulate” varying options within itself before outsourcing them in a real, empirical world has a tremendous advantage over creatures who lack such a simulacrum Rolodex" (Is the Universe an App, Page 140)
Reference
MSAC Philosophy Group. Is the Universe an App. Walnut, 2014.
