Virtual reality (VR) holds the potential to rebuild human society from the ground up, from financial systems to governance structures, free from the shackles of existing bureaucratic and authoritarian frameworks. While some argue that the metaverse represents a misguided path for humanity, I believe that this virtual landscape offers possibilities that the real world cannot.
The current world system, with its deep-rooted institutions and legacies, is too complex and entrenched to rebuild entirely.
However, in virtual reality, we have the opportunity to construct societies that transcend these limitations. The metaverse isn’t something to fear or avoid; it’s a natural evolution of how we experience reality, and its development represents a path to a more fluid, self-sovereign existence.
In this article, I advocate for stepping outside the conventional systems of the physical world and embracing virtual environments as the future. These digital realms are not an escape from reality, but an extension of it—one that we can live fully and meaningfully in.
Can Sci-Fi Classics Like The Matrix Serve as a Model for the Metaverse?
Science fiction, at its core, is philosophy in disguise—each work a thought experiment, imagining the implications of technologies like intelligent machines or fully immersive virtual realities. Authors such as Stanisław Lem used their stories to explore profound philosophical concepts, some of which have since influenced actual philosophical discourse. Similarly, The Matrix explores complex ideas, but I diverge from its creators on a fundamental point.
In The Matrix, the characters sense an underlying falseness to their virtual world, leading them to question its reality. They feel something is “off” in small, almost imperceptible ways, which eventually drives them to madness. I disagree with this premise. I believe that a person, if placed in a high-quality simulation, would be unable to distinguish it from reality—and, more importantly, there would be no need to.
Can We Tell If We’re in a Virtual World?
If a virtual reality is imperfect, we might notice glitches—objects falling through surfaces or sudden visual inconsistencies. Perhaps the creators of the simulation might even interfere, performing miracles like flipping the Statue of Liberty upside down or parting the seas. But even such dramatic events might not convince everyone that the world they live in is artificial.
The greater challenge lies in a perfect simulation, one that replicates reality so completely that there are no discernible differences. In such a world, science would offer no way to detect its artificiality because every experiment conducted within it would yield the same results as in the real world. This scenario raises the question: if there is no way to tell the difference, does it even matter?
Does It Matter If We Live in a Simulation?
Imagine we learn tomorrow, with absolute certainty, that our world is a computer simulation like The Matrix. While this revelation might shock us initially, I believe that life would go on as usual. Some might feel their existence is a lie, but over time, people would adapt. The sun would still rise, friendships would still matter, and we would still need to work, eat, and live.
The essence of the world wouldn’t change just because it is made up of bits instead of atoms. Our experiences, emotions, and memories would still be real to us. The Earth would continue to orbit the Sun, and our daily lives would proceed as they always have.
In a way, we are already living in a simulation—albeit one created by our own bodies. We do not directly perceive reality; instead, our senses and brains filter and construct a model of the world around us. What we consider “reality” is just an interpretation of sensory data. The distinction between the real and the virtual is not as clear-cut as we think.
What Does It Mean to Be Real?
At its core, reality must feel objective. The world must appear independent of our minds, with stable objects and consistent cause-and-effect relationships. The spoon should not bend simply because we think it’s not there. This sense of reality is hardwired into our brains, which filter information based on expectations formed by previous experiences.
Virtual worlds must mimic this objectivity, causality, and predictability to feel real to us. They should also allow for human interaction, as relationships between people form the foundation of shared reality. A virtual world that restricts interaction would feel incomplete, lacking the dynamism of human experiences—both wonderful and terrible.
Do Technical Specs Matter?
While high-resolution graphics, sound, and haptic feedback are important, they are secondary to the quality of the experience. We already have examples of virtual worlds with relatively poor technical quality that people still choose to inhabit, like Second Life. Despite its outdated visuals and lack of three-dimensionality, users have spent years building entire lives within it. Concerts, interviews, and social events occur regularly in this virtual space.
Conversely, technically superior worlds like VRChat or Rec Room have not achieved the same success, proving that technical specifications alone do not guarantee a compelling virtual experience. Older generations often view virtual worlds as less meaningful than the physical world, but this perception is fading.
Digital worlds now have their own economies, social systems, and even political implications, demonstrating that they are not merely an escape from reality—they are becoming an extension of it.
When Will Virtual Reality Become Indistinguishable from Physical Reality?
For now, VR faces many challenges, including the bulkiness of headsets, limited sensory engagement, and the occasional sensation of dizziness. But as technology evolves, these barriers will diminish. In the next 20 or 30 years, we may see advancements that perfectly replicate sight and sound, with some degree of touch simulation as well.
True immersion, however, will require the simulation of smells, tastes, and bodily sensations—experiences like eating, drinking, and even sex. Achieving this level of realism will likely require a neural interface directly connected to the central nervous system, as seen in The Matrix. I predict such an interface will emerge by the end of the century.
As virtual worlds evolve, the line between reality and simulation will blur. Virtual spaces will no longer be seen as a copy of the physical world but as new, fantastical environments that are still fundamentally understandable and meaningful to humans.
In conclusion, the rise of virtual reality offers not an escape but an expansion of our experience of reality. Whether we live in a simulation or not may ultimately be irrelevant. What matters is how we interact with the world around us—whether it is made of atoms or bits. As technology continues to evolve, the distinction between the virtual and physical will grow increasingly meaningless, and we will find ourselves building meaningful lives in worlds beyond our current imagination.
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