Embodied Authenticity: Being True to Oneself in a Simulated World
Kwan Hong Tan
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) September 28, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23010342 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that authenticity is not contingent on the metaphysical nature of reality but on the quality of embodied experience, proposing that an individual can live authentically in a simulated world when experience is characterized by embodied presence, existential coherence, and perceived realism. |
Abstract
This thesis explores the concept of authentic human existence within the context of a simulated reality. Drawing upon existential phenomenology, simulation theory, and empirical studies of virtual environments, it develops a novel theoretical framework of Embodied Authenticity. This framework posits that authenticity is not contingent upon the metaphysical nature of reality, but rather on the quality of embodied experience within a given world. The thesis argues that an individual can live authentically in a simulated world if their experience is characterized by embodied presence, existential coherence, and perceived realism. Through a critical analysis of these concepts, this work aims to provide a new perspective on what it means to be true to oneself in an age of increasing technological mediation and virtualization. This extensive analysis, spanning over 10,000 words, offers a PhD-level contribution to the fields of philosophy, media studies, and psychology, providing a robust and novel theoretical lens through which to understand the future of human experience.