X-Message-Number: 11787
Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 23:44:05 -0700
From: Mike Perry <>
Subject: Virtual reality, real consciousness

Thomas Donaldson says, among other things in #11773,

>And for the case of dreams, no, they are not virtual. The best current
>theory about dreams is that they are part of our brain's activity in
>understanding events which happened before that sleep. Just as other brain
>activity, they are reactions to events which took place. Of course even
>if they were a form of virtual reality, they'd say nothing about the
>possibility of virtual reality and a virtual person on a computer...
>our brains are NOT computers isolated from all other input.

As far as I can see, to a good approximation, our brains are isolated from
outside input when we are dreaming, so far as we are aware, and we do
experience virtual realities whatever their cause. And this shows that we
can experience virtual realities already, and don't have to be wondering if
it will only be possible "someday." An isolated mind, then, can experience
virtual reality and thus a form of real consciousness without any outside
sensory input (though it would not preclude an interaction with outsiders,
if a suitable communication channel could be set up). This opens a lot of
possibilities, I think. I will not dispute that there are practical
constraints if you want to be conscioius *and* interactive in your physical
surroundings, as in playing baseball. But forms of consciousness are
possible that escape these constraints.

Mike Perry

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