Abstract

This paper aims to philosophically analyze the concept of virtual reality, and to determine the concept from an ontological point of view. The term "virtual reality" is often used synonymously with "digital simulation". In his recent book Reality+, David Chalmers has argued that according to virtual digitalism, "if we're in a simulation, our world is still real". He calls this position "simula- tion realism". Against this view I will argue that virtual reality and simulation should not be identified. Rather, virtual reality is a genuine kind of reality that has always been part of our life. To this end, I will analyze the ontology of virtual reality by using the example of banknotes and referring to Lynne Baker's "constitution view".