Matthew Raspanti

The Virtual Universe: Philosophy, Physics and the Nature of Things Matthew Raspanti

What is the nature of the universe? What is it made of? Is there purpose in it? These are among the fundamental questions addressed by this book, which is intended for a general reader. The book includes two brief and reader-friendly overviews, one on philosophy, the other on physics without the use of any math.

Over the centuries, a number of philosophers have speculated about the existence of a non-material world in addition to, or to the exclusion of, the material world we believe to be living in. Their statements, however, have tended to be too abstract, too difficult to relate to daily experience. Contemporary physics, on the other hand, has been very successful in accounting for many aspects of the world we experience. Yet, at a fundamental level, physics makes some counter-intuitive assertions with very puzzling philosophical implications that remain largely unexplored.

The central theme of this book is the author's conjecture that: 1) we live in a nonmaterial Virtual Universe somewhat similar to the highly publicized virtual reality being developed by computer science, and 2) this Virtual Universe, which includes our whole bodies, is the creation of a Cosmic Mind, of which our individual minds are integral parts.

The idea of a nonmaterial world sounds certainly bizarre, if not absurd. And yet, a Virtual Universe provides a perspective from which meaningful, common-sense interpretations can be given to some abstract philosophical statements of the past, and also to some strange assertions of contemporary physics. Readers who disagree with the conjecture of a Virtual Universe might still appreciate the informative overviews of philosophy and physics.

Here are excerpts of comments by the editors of five publishing houses: "an accessible, compelling book"..."highly informative and accessible"..."an important and intense endeavor"..."intelligent and written in a very straightforward manner"..."a clear, concise book and one that gives an excellent overview of the philosophical tradition."