RE: [xmca] latour

From: Luiz Carlos Baptista <lucabaptista who-is-at fcsh.unl.pt>
Date: Sat Mar 08 2008 - 07:19:19 PST

Dear Kevin,

Thanks for your thoughts on the matter. I have another quote that I find
very useful when thinking about reality. This is from Philip K. Dick:

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."

("How to build a universe that doesn't fall apart two days later", available
in http://deoxy.org/pkd_how2build.htm).

So reality is that which persists independently of our thoughts. This of
course has huge implications for the metaphysical status of online games,
particularly MMORPG.

As for Borges, I think this has to do with our involvement (or even
engrossment) with fiction, play, etc. William James had something to say
about it in his Principles of Psychology, as well as Alfred Schutz and
Erving Goffman (particularly in Frame Analysis).

Finally, regarding money and the "gamification" (sorry) of economy, I
strongly recommend an amazing book by Julian Dibbell, "Play Money".

Best,
Luiz

**********
"The brain is a wonderful thing. Everybody should have one."

-----Original Message-----
From: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu [mailto:xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu] On
Behalf Of kevin.rocap@liu.edu
Sent: sábado, 8 de Março de 2008 3:14
To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
Cc: xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
Subject: Re: [xmca] latour

Dear Luiz,

Another quick thought:

I always liked this Jorge Luis Borges quotation, if I recall correctly:

"The real world is the world we pretend to be real when we read"

By extension, perhaps the real world is the world we pretend to be
real when we're online gaming. ;-)

In Peace,
K.

Sent from my iPhone
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Received on Sat Mar 8 07:23 PST 2008

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