Post by Arlette Lopez on Feb 14, 2015 2:49:27 GMT
1. Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness.
1. The virtual simulation theory of consciousness is the idea that makes our minds believe certain things that are not actually real. For example, the virtual simulation theory of consciousness gives us the ability to think and question things a lot. The book, "Is the Universe an App?", explains that "the brain is a virtual simulator" and also says that "consciousness is a virtual simulator" (Lane 101). The virtual simulation theory of consciousness gives our brain the ability to think about our moral issues. It gives us the ability to be more aware of things that are happening or that may occur in the future. We can visualize things that may not even exist but our brains gives us that power to do that. In "Is the Universe an App?", the book gives an example of how the majority of people who got their hands, arms or legs amputated still felt pain in those areas even though they were aware that that part of their body didn't exist anymore (Lane 99).
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
2. The brain tricks us by making us believe in such things that are not even real but to our brain it appears that it is real because it is close to being real. For example, in the film "Disneyland of Consciousness", it talks about how the child thought that the pirate that was in the ride was a real human being but later found out that it was just an animatronic and that it was the lighting that played a trick on his mind. This makes us become easily fooled. In the "Cerebral Mirage", there is an image shown where we can view two things. We can either view a vase or two faces. Optical illusions really tricks our brain and deceives our eyes. In "Is the Universe an App?", it mentions that without deception "we wouldn't be able to survive, since survival of the fittest is predicated on one's ability to be stealth when necessary or to be able to invoke varying camouflages in times of need" (Lane 98). I agree with this quote that "without deception we wouldn't be able to survive" because I think that the more we get deceived, the more we learn that we shouldn't be easily fooled by things, and I think that it is beneficial for our genetic survival since it would make us more wiser. In "Is the Universe an App?", it also states that "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" (Lane 101). I think its interesting to know how our brain can trick us even when we are asleep and not aware of our surroundings. Just like when we have a dream that seems so real, we should be able to distinguish reality from fantasy.
1. The virtual simulation theory of consciousness is the idea that makes our minds believe certain things that are not actually real. For example, the virtual simulation theory of consciousness gives us the ability to think and question things a lot. The book, "Is the Universe an App?", explains that "the brain is a virtual simulator" and also says that "consciousness is a virtual simulator" (Lane 101). The virtual simulation theory of consciousness gives our brain the ability to think about our moral issues. It gives us the ability to be more aware of things that are happening or that may occur in the future. We can visualize things that may not even exist but our brains gives us that power to do that. In "Is the Universe an App?", the book gives an example of how the majority of people who got their hands, arms or legs amputated still felt pain in those areas even though they were aware that that part of their body didn't exist anymore (Lane 99).
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
2. The brain tricks us by making us believe in such things that are not even real but to our brain it appears that it is real because it is close to being real. For example, in the film "Disneyland of Consciousness", it talks about how the child thought that the pirate that was in the ride was a real human being but later found out that it was just an animatronic and that it was the lighting that played a trick on his mind. This makes us become easily fooled. In the "Cerebral Mirage", there is an image shown where we can view two things. We can either view a vase or two faces. Optical illusions really tricks our brain and deceives our eyes. In "Is the Universe an App?", it mentions that without deception "we wouldn't be able to survive, since survival of the fittest is predicated on one's ability to be stealth when necessary or to be able to invoke varying camouflages in times of need" (Lane 98). I agree with this quote that "without deception we wouldn't be able to survive" because I think that the more we get deceived, the more we learn that we shouldn't be easily fooled by things, and I think that it is beneficial for our genetic survival since it would make us more wiser. In "Is the Universe an App?", it also states that "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" (Lane 101). I think its interesting to know how our brain can trick us even when we are asleep and not aware of our surroundings. Just like when we have a dream that seems so real, we should be able to distinguish reality from fantasy.