Keywords
VR
phenomenology of the body
embodied cognition.
How to Cite
Abstract
This paper analyzes embodied intersubjectivity in virtual reality from the philosophical perspective. The phenomenon of fading borders between what we can call virtual and ‘real’ gives an opportunity to show how the present VR technology is able to account for (social) embodiment. The ongoing growth of VR market and how it may influence intersubjectivity within virtual space cannot be unnoticed. To ground the relevance of the topic, works of phenomenologists such as Merleau-Ponty and Heidegger are thoroughly mentioned as well as embodied cognition movement within cognitive science and some empirical research from psychology and neuroscience of embodiment. The first half of the paper concentrates more on general issues concerning embodiment which is necessary in the context of virtual reality whereas the second concerns social embodiment in VR and the notion of embodied, performative identity. The problematic, commonsense notion of the ‘body’ is also mentioned.References
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