From: Bob Jacobson <bob@worldesign.com>
Subject: Re: PHIL: Concept of Reality
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 00:43:18 -0700
Message-ID: <31807E96.4EB8@worldesign.com>
Organization: Worldesign Inc., Seattle <www.worldesign.com>


thalia wrote:
> 
> Hello people, I'm doing a seminar on "Virtual reality and the changing
> concept of what is real".  I was hoping you could help me out with some
> suggestions to answer these questions:
> - what is real?
> - is it important to know what is real?
> - how do we know something is real?
> - if we put virtual head gear on a baby as soon as it was born and the
>   person lived their whole life in a virtual world, would he/she think
>   that is reality?
> - Is virtual reality leading us closer to what is really real?

I imagine that if you go back to the sociological classic, THE SOCIAL
CONSTRUCTION OF REALITY, that you will find many useful ideas for your
theme.  As to "leading us closer to what is really real," this is a
conundrum.  If something is leading you closer to anything, isn't it
by definition "real"?

Bob Jacobson
bob@worldesign.com