Post by Mautasim Hussain on Jul 29, 2016 19:59:32 GMT
1) Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness
The virtual simulation theory of consciousness is the idea that human consciousness is able to simulate possibilities that the physical body can actually undergo based on the previous experiences created by the five senses. According to Andrea Diem-Lane and David Christopher Lane in their book Is The Universe An App? the brain is able to “processes both external and internal stimuli and then [reconstruct] a virtual environment in which [humans are able to] react accordingly” (Diem-Lane, 75). The virtual simulation in not limited to just manual consciousness, in which a person is actively in thought, but also involuntary consciousness, which primarily occurs when a person is in a dream state. The authors state that this virtual simulator was establish as a result of a Darwinian advantage, by being “evolved over eons over time to enable mammals with higher brain functions to “in source” varying options of how to respond to a disparate array of problems before “out sourcing” them” (Diem-Lane, 107). By be able to simulate possible outcomes, a person gains the insight to make the better choice. Similarly, by having involuntary simulation about the ‘waking state’ a person is now subconsciously able to make a relative better choice when approaching a problem outside of simulation.
2) How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
In Is The Universe An App? The authors explain how the brain is able to trick human’s consciousness in order to increase their genetic survival by referring to what occurs during Near Death Experiences. The author explains that “From an evolutionary perspective […] [near death experiences] are not about a purported afterlife but rather about the brain's amazing ability to create a reason or purpose to continue living” and that the main purpose of near death experiences are to “invariably motivate one to live another day” (Diem-Lane, 102). If a person were to have a near death experience and not believe it, then that event might not be able to be motivationally enough to encourage the person to survive. Therefore, our brain tricks us into believing that its mechanisms, and the things that it conjures up, are in fact real. This trick is so that the brain’s organisms are able to react well enough to live longer and eventually reproduce, which benefits their genetic survival.
The virtual simulation theory of consciousness is the idea that human consciousness is able to simulate possibilities that the physical body can actually undergo based on the previous experiences created by the five senses. According to Andrea Diem-Lane and David Christopher Lane in their book Is The Universe An App? the brain is able to “processes both external and internal stimuli and then [reconstruct] a virtual environment in which [humans are able to] react accordingly” (Diem-Lane, 75). The virtual simulation in not limited to just manual consciousness, in which a person is actively in thought, but also involuntary consciousness, which primarily occurs when a person is in a dream state. The authors state that this virtual simulator was establish as a result of a Darwinian advantage, by being “evolved over eons over time to enable mammals with higher brain functions to “in source” varying options of how to respond to a disparate array of problems before “out sourcing” them” (Diem-Lane, 107). By be able to simulate possible outcomes, a person gains the insight to make the better choice. Similarly, by having involuntary simulation about the ‘waking state’ a person is now subconsciously able to make a relative better choice when approaching a problem outside of simulation.
2) How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
In Is The Universe An App? The authors explain how the brain is able to trick human’s consciousness in order to increase their genetic survival by referring to what occurs during Near Death Experiences. The author explains that “From an evolutionary perspective […] [near death experiences] are not about a purported afterlife but rather about the brain's amazing ability to create a reason or purpose to continue living” and that the main purpose of near death experiences are to “invariably motivate one to live another day” (Diem-Lane, 102). If a person were to have a near death experience and not believe it, then that event might not be able to be motivationally enough to encourage the person to survive. Therefore, our brain tricks us into believing that its mechanisms, and the things that it conjures up, are in fact real. This trick is so that the brain’s organisms are able to react well enough to live longer and eventually reproduce, which benefits their genetic survival.