Philosophical reflections on the virtual reality
Huang Xi-zhen · Journal of Guangzhou University · 2004
Over the recent years, the technique and the application of virtual reality have attracted the attention of philosophical circles. From the philosophical perspective and based on some analysis of the relevant research results in this area, this paper represents the author's assumptions on this issue. They include: (1)The virtual reality is a technique, action and state, created by man with the digital medium and which can interact with man; (2)As an object and an union of subject and instrument, the virtual reality (virtual situation) is a compound artificial environment constructed by the subject and object, both physical and psychological; (3)Cyberspace, a new virtual environment, results from the combination of the virtual technique and networking technique. Its distant presence is its form of existence. Its distant presence results in both online effect and time-reduction and space-extension effect. With the virtual feature as its most prominent characteristic, virtual reality has induced the issue of network ethnic.