Virtuality and Humanity

Virtual Practice and Its Evolution from Pre-History to the 21st Century

By: Sam N. Lehman-Wilzig

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Paperback | 17 December 2021

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Paperback
368 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.5 x 15.49 x 1.93

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This book offers the first-ever comprehensive study of virtuality throughout human history: its ancient-to-modern evolution and more recent expansion; existence and expression in many areas of life; psychological and social reasons for its universality; and inter-relationship with "reality." The book's main thesis: from time immemorial, virtuality has been an integral part of our humanity in almost all areas of life. The secondary thesis: over the course of human history, we have expanded the areas of virtual activity and increased the amount of time spent in virtual endeavors. The underlying reasons lie in brain psychology (limited perception, flawed cognition, stimuli prediction, thought creation) and six central functions that virtuality serves for humans - from escaping boredom to relieving existential dread.

After an introductory chapter on the various definitions and meanings of virtuality followed by a chapter describing how the brain naturally "virtualizes," the book's main section devotes a chapter each to describing the historical evolution of the virtual in: Religion & the Supernatural; Philosophy, Mathematics, Physics & Cosmology; Music, Literature & the Arts; Economics; Community/Nationhood, Government & War; Communication (interpersonal and mass). A chapter is also devoted to analyzing the huge increase and cross-pollination of virtuality in the modern era, from the physical sciences to culture. The book's final two sections deal with several questions: Why do we virtualize? To what extent are virtuality and reality two sides of the same coin? How will neuroscience, biotech & "compunications" affect virtuality in the future? Can/should there be limits to human virtualizing?

The book is written in clear language for academics and the educated lay public - without professional jargon; it is extensively referenced.

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