Post by cassandracuenca on Apr 4, 2016 6:13:26 GMT
1. Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness.
The virtual stimulation theory of consciousness seems to be a hypothesis that human brains envisioning things based on past experiences while being unaware in reality. For instance, when you day dream. According to "Is The Universe An App?", "Because consciousness is a virtual simulator there are times that our dreaming brain can overlap with our waking state and radically confuse us about what is internal and what is external. In certain brain states it is nearly impossible to even recognize our own projections as projections. Near-Death Experiences are a good case in point here" (Diem-Lane and Lane, 114). Lane continues the theory by writing: "We already intimately know that the brain is a virtual simulator because of dreaming where everything is hallucinated by us, even without us knowing how and why we are doing it. The waking state differs from dreaming because it receives external data streams from the nine orifices of our body, which allows for new material from which our brain can draw new maps about how to respond to any given situation" (Diem-Lane and Lane, 119). Based off of this description, we all map out different scenarios on what could happen during a time (whether it's past, present, or future) internally, until you choose to act one externally. Thus, the meaning of the virtual simulation of consciousness.
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
The brain can trick us during consciousness and unconsciousness; however, this can benefit us in different ways, such as in genetic survival. According to the video "Disneyland of Consciousness", it explains that we don't have complete access to our minds and its labyrinth like, and so many processes that happen remain unaware of it. It is not much in the sense that the brain is tricking us; however, it is tricking its self by believing in what is made up by consciousness.
In our genetic makeup we have a physiological reaction, what is called "fight or flight response". During the reaction, normally during a threatening situations, we have a choice to either "fight" the threat or "flight", meaning run away from the situation. The reason the brain tricks our body by doing different choices and scenarios to get out of the situation is to tell yourself to calm down or to get out of the scene as quickly and safely as possible.
Works Cited:
Neuralsurfer. "The Disneyland of Consciousness: Exploring the Animatronic Image." YouTube. YouTube, 12 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
Lane, Andrea. Is the Universe an App? N.p.: Msac Philosophy Group, 2014. Print.