Post by shar0n77 on Jul 9, 2016 20:42:27 GMT
Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness.
In “Is the Universe an App?,” the authors explain “Consciousness is a fantastic virtual simulator and because of its inclusivity and insular engineering it has an inherent tendency to believe its own machinations as exterior to itself…”(75). Therefore, our minds are the reasons as to why we interpret the information the way we do. “The difficulty gets even stickier when we pause and realize that we don’t even have full and complete access to our own minds”(75). This further emphasized the idea that the way we perceive things around us is not the same as the way our mind perceives information. Therefore, our consciousness functions as a virtual simulator that helps us get a better understanding of information we are exposed to everyday. After this information is simulated by our consciousness, we are then able to react accordingly. Additionally, “the imagination that things are real does not represent true reality” (116) further builds on the idea of the virtual simulation theory of consciousness because what we see to be true may be interpreted differently by our minds. This theory allows living beings to understand their surroundings on a deeper level through interpretations of information by our minds.
Reference
Lane, A. Lane, D. (2014). Is the Universe an App?: Exploring the Physics of Awareness.
MSAC Philosophy Group.
How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
The brain can trick us by the way it interprets information. When trying to solve problems, our brains can often find the shortest and easiest ways to solve these problems. There are also hidden aspects within our brain that we are often unaware of. These hidden ideas can influence how we find solutions to our problems. As I learned in my psychology class, there are confirmation biases, hindsight bias, as well as other biases that can impact the way we interpret things. Although we do not purposely allow the brain to play tricks on us, it does so without our conscious knowing. In “Is the Universe an App,” the author proposes the idea that “the brain is the production facility and because of its centrality to self-reflective awareness, it seems fairly obvious that if you destroy the central nervous system you have killed consciousness”(33). This further explains the fact that the brain interprets the information around us for our understanding. With this interpreted information, we, as living beings, are able to advance because of the knowledge are brains provide for us. Therefore, this information provides a benefit for our genetic survival because it allows for a deeper understanding of information. The brain, in general, allows us to make decisions, judgments, and predictions for our overall benefit.
Reference
Lane, A. Lane, D. (2014). Is the Universe an App?: Exploring the Physics of Awareness.
MSAC Philosophy Group.
In “Is the Universe an App?,” the authors explain “Consciousness is a fantastic virtual simulator and because of its inclusivity and insular engineering it has an inherent tendency to believe its own machinations as exterior to itself…”(75). Therefore, our minds are the reasons as to why we interpret the information the way we do. “The difficulty gets even stickier when we pause and realize that we don’t even have full and complete access to our own minds”(75). This further emphasized the idea that the way we perceive things around us is not the same as the way our mind perceives information. Therefore, our consciousness functions as a virtual simulator that helps us get a better understanding of information we are exposed to everyday. After this information is simulated by our consciousness, we are then able to react accordingly. Additionally, “the imagination that things are real does not represent true reality” (116) further builds on the idea of the virtual simulation theory of consciousness because what we see to be true may be interpreted differently by our minds. This theory allows living beings to understand their surroundings on a deeper level through interpretations of information by our minds.
Reference
Lane, A. Lane, D. (2014). Is the Universe an App?: Exploring the Physics of Awareness.
MSAC Philosophy Group.
How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
The brain can trick us by the way it interprets information. When trying to solve problems, our brains can often find the shortest and easiest ways to solve these problems. There are also hidden aspects within our brain that we are often unaware of. These hidden ideas can influence how we find solutions to our problems. As I learned in my psychology class, there are confirmation biases, hindsight bias, as well as other biases that can impact the way we interpret things. Although we do not purposely allow the brain to play tricks on us, it does so without our conscious knowing. In “Is the Universe an App,” the author proposes the idea that “the brain is the production facility and because of its centrality to self-reflective awareness, it seems fairly obvious that if you destroy the central nervous system you have killed consciousness”(33). This further explains the fact that the brain interprets the information around us for our understanding. With this interpreted information, we, as living beings, are able to advance because of the knowledge are brains provide for us. Therefore, this information provides a benefit for our genetic survival because it allows for a deeper understanding of information. The brain, in general, allows us to make decisions, judgments, and predictions for our overall benefit.
Reference
Lane, A. Lane, D. (2014). Is the Universe an App?: Exploring the Physics of Awareness.
MSAC Philosophy Group.