本文是从网络哲学的角度对于网络环境下虚拟与现实关系(以下简称虚实关系)的系统研究。笔者在已有的虚实关系研究成果的基础上提出了一个“网络虚实二重性理论”。“网络虚实二重性理论”认为,虚拟不仅是事物的一种存在形式,也是人性的重要方面。作为一种复杂的矛盾存在物,网络世界不仅具有人们一般所认为的虚拟性,而且还具有隐匿在虚拟性之后的深沉的现实性。虚拟性与现实性的矛盾是网络世界的基本矛盾。物质一元论、心灵物体二元论、各种“三个世界”理论都不能恰如其分地解释网络世界。网络世界可以用“存在的四种基本样态”理论来解释。网络世界具有技术世界、社会世界和人文世界这三重不同的维度,在这三重维度中都蕴涵着虚拟性与现实性这双重属性。虚拟与现实之间同时存在差异性、同一性、对立性和统一性这四个方面的基本关系。这四个方面的基本关系对于我们都具有极大的启示。虚实关系的这四个方面可以用一个命题来概括,那就是:网络是现实的延伸。网络既是现实的人的延伸,也是现实社会的延伸。虚拟与现实之间既有可能形成强性关系,也有可能形成弱性关系,我们所要选择的是强性关系;虚拟与现实之间既有可能形成良性关系,也有可能形成恶性关系,我们所要选择的是良性关系。在当前关于网络世界与现实世界关系的研究中,最有影响的论调就是“网络恶托邦”和“网络乌托邦”。其实,网络既不是漆黑一团的“恶托邦”,也不是至善至美的“乌托邦”。网络世界在一定意义上的确具有乌托邦所具有的独立性、平等性、自由性、幸福性、自治性和大同性等特征,但是这些特征具有强烈的表面性和形式性。网络世界不可能成为乌托邦的根本原因在于网络世界是现实世界的延伸,网络世界与现实世界存在着复杂的互动关系。在网络时代,人们面临的一个严重问题就是虚实分裂。虚实分裂对于社会和人的全面发展都构成了极大的威胁。为了解决虚实分裂问题,我们必须想方设法促进虚实之间的良性互动从而实现虚实和谐。虚实和谐是人类在网络时代应该追求的基本价值目标。虚实和谐不仅是必要的,也是可能的。
This paper is a systematic study of the relation between virtuality and reality in internet environment from the perspective of internet philosophy. The author puts forward a theory of “internet duality of virtuality and reality” based on the fruit of previous study of the relation between virtuality and reality. The theory of “internet duality of virtuality and reality” holds that virtuality is not only a form of existence, but also an important aspect of human conscience. As a kind of complicated contradictory existence, the internet world is not only virtual, as is known to many people, but also has its deep reality behind its virtualness. The contradiction between virtualness and reality is the basic contradiction of the internet world. Materialistic monism, dualism of spirit and matter, various theories of “three words” are not capable of explaining the internet world properly. The theory of “four basic forms of existence” can be used to explain the internet world, which has three dimensions of technological world, social world, and human world, all of which imply the dual property of virtualness and reality. Between virtuality and reality, there exist some basic relations in the following four aspects: difference, identity, oppositeness and unity. These four basic relations provide us with a lot of inspirations. These four aspects of the relation between virtuality and reality can be summarized in one proposition, that is: internet is an extension of reality. Internet is not only an extension of real human beings, but also of real society. Strong relation or weak relation may emerge between virtuality and reality, and we should choose the former; virtuous relation or vicious relation may form between virtuality and reality, and still the former should be our choice. In current studies of the relation between the internet world and the real world, two most influential arguments are “Internet Dystopian” and “Internet Utopia”. As a matter of fact, internet is neither a pitch-dark Dystopian, nor the best and the most beautiful “Utopia”. In a certain sense, the internet world has some characteristics of Utopia, such as independence, equality, freedom, happiness, autonomy and universalism; however, these characteristics are strongly superficial and formal. The fundamental reason why the internet world cannot become Utopia is that it is an extension of the real world, and that between the internet world and the real world there exist very complicated interactional relations. In the internet age, a serious problem human beings are facing is the conflict between virtuality and reality. The conflict between virtuality and reality is very harmful to the all-round development of society and man. In order to resolve this conflict, we should try our best to promote virtuous interaction between virtuality and reality, thus realizing the harmony between them. The harmony between virtuality and reality is a basic value which people should strive for in the internet age. It is not only necessary, but also possible.