Table 1 4 approaches to the ontology of metaverses
From: All too real metacapitalism: towards a non-dualist political ontology of metaverse
Approach | Dualist? | Real? | Corresponding experience and expectations | Potential for good life? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Platonic | dualist | Not real, mere appearance | Fascination with and escape, or rejection of the virtual | Good life only possible in the real world |
Brey | dualist | Sometimes real | Use it, for example to make money; sometimes real ethical issues | Good life possible in virtual world but dangers |
Chalmers | dualist but trying to move beyond | Always real but digital (Reality+) | Immersion and meaningful, no escapism, we get used to it, but remains another world; Utopian expectations | Good life possible in virtual world (Reality+) |
Coeckelbergh | fully non-dualist | Always real | Experience of one reality transformed by technology; one embodied, social, and political reality | Good life possible in (mixed) reality; ethical and political issues |