Virtual Reality, Empathy and Ethics

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The book explores the ethical implications of emerging virtual reality technologies, including low-cost gaming headsets and deep fake media. It critically evaluates VR's potential for moral enhancement, particularly its use by journalists and NGOs to foster empathy for marginalized communities. By analyzing the intersection of immersion, embodiment, and persuasion, the author proposes a VR "ethical tool" that encourages reflective ethical judgment. Drawing on John Dewey's pragmatist philosophy, it envisions VR as a means for dramatic rehearsal, promoting a future-oriented, empathic ethical framework.