Justin Hollinger – BTMM 4446 – 4/20/10
READING SUMMARY: Presence and the Meaning of Life
Jones, M. T., Lombard, M., & Jasak, J. (2009, November).Presence and the meaning of life: Exploring (tele)presence simulation scenarios and their implications.Presented at the Twelfth International Workshop on Presence, Los Angeles, California, USA.
One definition describes presence as “the perceptual illusion of non-mediation.” Telepresence is focused on taking advantage of the individual’s perceptual fallibility. The Simulation argument explores the possibility that the lives we live are actually simulations in and of themselves. By conceiving simulation scenarios, we can explore the parameters of these hypothetical realities. For practitioners of presence technology, this concept can be illuminating. The authors use six distinct simulation scenarios to address the theory and its implications.
The Scenarios
1. In the Physical Presence Scenario, our “real” physical bodies are immersed in a virtual environment that is so lifelike that it cannot be distinguished from the actual physical environment it disguises. The film “The Truman Show” portrays a man caught unknowingly within a simulated reality, becoming increasingly aware of his confinement. 2. In the Intercept Scenario, physical bodies and a physical world are artificial constructions. It relies on the idea that everything we know and experience is mediated by the brain. If a “master computer” could “intercept” all of the brain’s channels, it could create an inescapable reality around an individual. Prime example is “The Matrix,” where physical human bodies are encapsulated, but unaware, their consciousness functions in a simulated world. 3. The Avatar Scenario suspects that although we feel as though we are in control of our actions, we are actually just “avatars” controlled by “gamers.” In this scenario, free will is an illusion. Computer game, “The Sims” demonstrates this concept. 4. The Android Scenario states that the individual rather than the environment is a simulation. Therefore, the individual’s consciousness has been previously engineered. Like in “Blade Runner,” individuals may be machines, but are unaware of their artificiality. 5. The Infinite Regression Scenario begins when the various simulation, ontological, and epistemological theories begin to fold in upon themselves. It conceives that we, or any given individual lives within simulations that are the product of other simulations. It could involve a complex chain or web of the various other simulation theories. 6. Finally, the Monism Scenario presents the idea that all existing beings and material are part of a greater whole. After willing them into being, it immediately repressed its own memory of doing so, in order to continually interact with itself. This creates the illusion of free will among its distinguishable yet inextricably bonded individuals.
Explication
Supposing that our reality was a simulation, what would it take to reveal the illusion? A person experiencing the Physical Presence Scenario at a renaissance fair needs only to remember that there is a developed world beyond the boundaries of the park. However, in the other scenarios such as Android and Monism, there is no preexisting awareness. These illusions could only be escaped through skepticism, persuasion, and experimentation regarding their bounds.
If one were to escape, what would be the consequences? In many of the scenarios, there is no external world to escape into, so leaving the simulation would be our termination. Considering the Android scenario, the realization of our falseness is not a step toward freedom, but simply the acknowledgment of our trivial, limited existence.
Morality then comes into question. If morality is adherence to a pre-established sense of what is right, the simulation argument would credit those original ideals to the creator of the simulation. Within that dilemma, the desire to discover and escape a great simulation carries its own moral consequences. Furthermore, the religious parallels and implications are endless. The origins of the physical world and presence of a divine deity become central, complicated topics in the discussion.
Conclusion: Implications for Telepresence
By considering simulation theory, we can design more effective telepresence experiences. We learn the importance of introducing individuals to an illusion slowly, eliminating elements that distract them from the constructed reality, emphasizing moral treatment within the illusions. Finally, the shrinking of technology could potentially lead to bodily internalization. Considering the principles of Monism has the potential to provide valuable insights to guide that real world transition. By seeking the parameters of our first hand experiences, we can more precisely control the experiences we design.