Should we live in reality, however painful, or seek a virtual reality escape?

[damnedscientist]

Just imagine for a moment, if you are fortunate enough to have to imagine, that you are very disabled. Now, imagine that you have the opportunity to live in a fabricated virtual reality where you can pretend not to be. Is it wrong, or is it right to want to do so

Comments

[vinegar_dog]

I see nothing morally wrong with living in a virtual reality where your handicap or disability is eliminated and you can lead a normal life, provided of course that attaining this doesn't harm anybody else

[damnedscientist]

Interesting points.

I was particularly taken by the concepts you introduced of 'so long as it is not harming anyone else' and, of course, who pays for this?

In addition, though, there was a very interesting point weaved through your response which reminded me that Captain Pike chose his fate, and was presumably aware of it while he was participating in it. The Tom Cruise character, on the other hand, may have originally chosen his fate but was unaware that he had done so while he was 'in it', which, to my mind, opens questions of free will.