Colin

23%
Flag icon
The simulator is perhaps closest to what Plato called a demiurge. In ancient Greece, a demiurge (or dēmiourgos) was an artisan or craftsman. In Plato’s dialogue the Timaeus, he describes the demiurge as a divine being who “fashioned and shaped” the material world. The demiurge is often treated in the Platonic tradition as a sort of second god, with the one true cosmic god above it. Plato’s demiurge was benevolent, but later, in the Gnostic tradition, demiurges were regarded as evil. The simulator can likewise be treated as a second deity, perhaps benevolent and perhaps not, who is responsible ...more
Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy
Rate this book
Clear rating
Open Preview