Post by rstrauss1 on Jul 18, 2016 5:02:21 GMT
Rebecca Strauss
Professor Lane
Phil 5
16 July 2016
Week Four: Essay Questions
1. Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness.
As humans our minds change or manipulate the world we live in or the situations we go through, which is explained as the virtual simulation theory of consciousness. The theory explains that a human’s conscious creates its very own virtual or “fake world” simply based on its sensory imagery. Meaning that when someone mentally thinks or fantasizes about something their conscious can sometimes perceive this as an actual experience. For example, have you ever imagined a certain situation and how it might go and what the outcome might be, almost everyone has. Although 9/10 they didn’t happen the way you thought, when you virtually experience things you are able to better react to them. In the “Brain Burn” video it states that “allowing humans to survive globally, even when our bodies were not adapted to certain environmental riches.” Explaining that by weighing out several different outcomes they will be able to better determine which one will be the best choice of action.
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
Our brains are the most complex and misunderstood organs in our body. Controlling all of our bodily functions and other organs as well. The brain tends to trick us by creating virtual realities making someone believe they are true. Have you ever woke up from a very vivid detailed dream just to wake up and find out that is was really only just a dream? By doing so, our conscious has created an illusion of how to react in a situation that is most likely not even going to happen. Due to the brain being so complex there are many parts of it that we still remain unaware of leaving us without complete control of it. Although, due to our virtual simulator we can plan out scenarios making it easier for us to survive. In the text “Is the Universe an App?” it’s said that “theory of conscious should take into consideration that what is unconscious to us humans may be conscious to animals devoid of higher order awareness.” Thus explaining that because animals and other creatures have no prediction of their outcome because they do not have the process of consciousness like we do as humans.
Professor Lane
Phil 5
16 July 2016
Week Four: Essay Questions
1. Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness.
As humans our minds change or manipulate the world we live in or the situations we go through, which is explained as the virtual simulation theory of consciousness. The theory explains that a human’s conscious creates its very own virtual or “fake world” simply based on its sensory imagery. Meaning that when someone mentally thinks or fantasizes about something their conscious can sometimes perceive this as an actual experience. For example, have you ever imagined a certain situation and how it might go and what the outcome might be, almost everyone has. Although 9/10 they didn’t happen the way you thought, when you virtually experience things you are able to better react to them. In the “Brain Burn” video it states that “allowing humans to survive globally, even when our bodies were not adapted to certain environmental riches.” Explaining that by weighing out several different outcomes they will be able to better determine which one will be the best choice of action.
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
Our brains are the most complex and misunderstood organs in our body. Controlling all of our bodily functions and other organs as well. The brain tends to trick us by creating virtual realities making someone believe they are true. Have you ever woke up from a very vivid detailed dream just to wake up and find out that is was really only just a dream? By doing so, our conscious has created an illusion of how to react in a situation that is most likely not even going to happen. Due to the brain being so complex there are many parts of it that we still remain unaware of leaving us without complete control of it. Although, due to our virtual simulator we can plan out scenarios making it easier for us to survive. In the text “Is the Universe an App?” it’s said that “theory of conscious should take into consideration that what is unconscious to us humans may be conscious to animals devoid of higher order awareness.” Thus explaining that because animals and other creatures have no prediction of their outcome because they do not have the process of consciousness like we do as humans.