David Chalmers, Professor of Philosophy and Neural Science at NYU, joins us to discuss his newest book Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

-Virtual reality as genuine reality

-Why VR is compatible with the good life

-Why we can never know whether we're in a simulation

-Consciousness in virtual realities

-The ethics of simulated beings

You can find the page for the podcast here: https://futureoflife.org/2022/01/26/david-chalmers-on-reality-virtual-worlds-and-the-problems-of-philosophy/

Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hePEg_h90KI

Check out David's book and website here: http://consc.net/

Follow Lucas on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/lucasfmperry

Have any feedback about the podcast? You can share your thoughts here:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/DRBFZCT

Timestamps: 

0:00 Intro

2:43 How this books fits into David's philosophical journey

9:40 David's favorite part(s) of the book

12:04 What is the thesis of the book?

14:00 The core areas of philosophy and how they fit into Reality+

16:48 Techno-philosophy

19:38 What is "virtual reality?"

21:06 Why is virtual reality "genuine reality?"

25:27 What is the dust theory and what's it have to do with the simulation hypothesis?

29:59 How does the dust theory fit in with arguing for virtual reality as genuine reality?

34:45 Exploring criteria for what it means for something to be real

42:38 What is the common sense view of what is real?

46:19 Is your book intended to address common sense intuitions about virtual reality?

48:51 Nozick's experience machine and how questions of value fit in

54:20 Technological implementations of virtual reality

58:40 How does consciousness fit into all of this?

1:00:18 Substrate independence and if classical computers can be conscious

1:02:35 How do problems of identity fit into virtual reality?

1:04:54 How would David upload himself?

1:08:00 How does the mind body problem fit into Reality+?

1:11:40 Is consciousness the foundation of value?

1:14:23 Does your moral theory affect whether you can live a good life in a virtual reality?

1:17:20 What does a good life in virtual reality look like?

1:19:08 David's favorite VR experiences

1:20:42 What is the moral status of simulated people?

1:22:38 Will there be unconscious simulated people with moral patiency?

1:24:41 Why we can never know we're not in a simulation

1:27:56 David's credences for whether we live in a simulation

1:30:29 Digital physics and what is says about the simulation hypothesis

1:35:21 Imperfect realism and how David sees the world after writing Reality+

1:37:51 David's thoughts on God

1:39:42 Moral realism or anti-realism?

1:40:55 Where to follow David and find Reality+

This podcast is possible because of the support of listeners like you. If you found this conversation to be meaningful or valuable, consider supporting it directly by donating at futureoflife.org/donate. Contributions like yours make these conversations possible.