Let's assume that civilizations, while climbing up the technological ladder, inevitably stumble upon the concept of Virtual Reality.
Let's further assume, that they master the field to a point, where you can't distinguish it from reality.
Couldn't it be possible, that such a society loses the incentive to do very much at all in the outside world, when the VR-experience can be so much more fulfilling on every level?
Could this be the Great Filter - the roadblock every civilization reaches at some point - that simply makes them turn inward and stay and live in "Ultimate Fun Land" (apologies to Iain M. Banks), rather than put up with the trouble of space-exploration?
Sure, there will individuals looking for answers in the real thing, but will they ever reach critical mass in such an environment?
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Let's assume that civilizations, while climbing up the technological ladder, inevitably stumble upon the concept of Virtual Reality.
Let's further assume, that they master the field to a point, where you can't distinguish it from reality.
Couldn't it be possible, that such a society loses the incentive to do very much at all in the outside world, when the VR-experience can be so much more fulfilling on every level? Could this be the Great Filter - the roadblock every civilization reaches at some point - that simply makes them turn inward and stay and live in "Ultimate Fun Land" (apologies to Iain M. Banks), rather than put up with the trouble of space-exploration?
Sure, there will individuals looking for answers in the real thing, but will they ever reach critical mass in such an environment?