The Phenomenology of Virtual Technology: Perception and Imagination in a Digital Age

The digital age is fundamentally changing how we relate to our perceptions and images, and Daniel O Shiel provides the first comprehensive phenomenology of virtual technology to show how the previously established experiential lines and structures between three basic categories of phenomenal experience are becoming blurred, inverted, or collapsing. He examines the phenomenological natures of perception and imagination through close textual analyses of the relevant works by Edmund Husserl, Eugen Fink, and Jean-Paul Sartre and argues for basic phenomenological differences between perceptions; physical and external images; and more mental imagery. The second part applies these theoretical findings to social media, online gaming, and virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies to show how previously clear categories of real and irreal, present and absent, genuine and fake, and even true and false are becoming less so.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 11 August 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The digital age we currently inhabit is profoundly transforming our relationship with our perceptions and images. To illustrate how the previously established experiential lines and structures between three fundamental categories of phenomenal experience – our everyday perceptions of reality, our everyday fantasies of irreality, and our everyday engagements with external images, particularly digital ones – are becoming blurred, inverted, or collapsing in a new era where a specific type of virtuality is emerging to the fore, Daniel O'Shiel offers the first comprehensive phenomenology of virtual technology.

O'Shiel delves into the profound implications of this shift, examining both the phenomenological underpinnings and the practical consequences that lie ahead. The work is structured into two main parts. In the first section, O'Shiel conducts a detailed exploration of the phenomenological nature of perception and imagination by closely analyzing the relevant works of Edmund Husserl, Eugen Fink, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Through these textual analyses, he argues that perception and imagination are fundamentally distinct in kind, although the dividing line between them varies, particularly with regard to a middle category known as "image-consciousness (Bildbewusstsein)." This first part establishes basic phenomenological distinctions between perceptions, physical and external images, and more mental imagery, while also accommodating a broader gradation between them.

The second part of the work applies these theoretical findings to some of the most influential "virtual technologies" of our time, including social media, online gaming, and various virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies. By examining these technologies, O'Shiel demonstrates how previously clear categories of real and irreal, present and absent, genuine and fake, and even true and false are becoming less distinct. The digital realm is blurring the boundaries between these categories, challenging our traditional understanding of the world and paving the way for new forms of experience and interaction.

In conclusion, the digital age is revolutionizing our perception and image-making processes, leading to a blurring of the lines between reality and fantasy, and between the physical and virtual worlds. Daniel O'Shiel's comprehensive phenomenology of virtual technology provides valuable insights into this transformative shift, shedding light on the phenomenological nature of perception and imagination, and exploring the practical implications of emerging virtual technologies. As we navigate this new era, it is essential to remain mindful of the profound implications of our digital interactions and to seek ways to harness the potential benefits while mitigating the potential risks.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350245501