--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The technologies of virtual reality are…" description: "\"The technologies of virtual reality are attempting to make us see from beneath, from inside, from behind... as if we were God.\" — Paul Virilio" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/paul-virilio-2130_attempting_the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are_120568.png" --- # The technologies of virtual reality are attempting to make… ![“The technologies of virtual reality are attempting to make us see from beneath, from inside, from behind... as if we were God.” quote by Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/paul-virilio-2130_attempting_the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are_120568.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/paul-virilio-2130_attempting_the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are_120568.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/paul-virilio-2130_attempting_the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are_120568.png) > “The technologies of virtual reality are attempting to make us see from beneath, from inside, from behind... as if we were God.” [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. VR seeks to give users god‑like perspectives, reshaping perception and authority through immersive simulation. **In simple terms:** VR makes us feel omniscient. Key Takeaway Technology can grant illusory omniscience. Themes technology perception power virtual reality Mood awe critical Type observation philosophical When to use this quote - gaming - architectural visualization - military training Key Concepts media theory philosophy of technology Practical Applications - Use VR to explore viewpoints beyond physical limits Questions to Reflect On - Does VR empower or alienate users? - How does simulated omniscience affect real‑world decision making? A Different Perspective The illusion of god‑like view can obscure responsibility for actions taken within simulations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inside God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inside-god-593215/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-attempting-1408152/) [Technologies Virtual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technologies-virtual-1408151/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Virtual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtual/) [Virtual reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtual-reality/) ## Related quotes > [Rationalization is a process of not perceiving reality, but of attempting to make reality fit one’s emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/rationalization-is-a-process-of-not-perceiving-reality-but-of/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The true problem with virtual reality is that orientation is no longer possible. We have lost our points of reference to orient ourselves. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-true-problem-with-virtual-reality-is-that-orientation-is-no/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [One day the virtual world might win over the real world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/one-day-the-virtual-world-might-win-over-the-real-world/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [I don't believe in simulationism, I believe that the word is already old-fashioned. As I see it, new technologies are substituting a virtual reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/i-don-t-believe-in-simulationism-i-believe-that-the-word-is-already/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [The simulator is the stage in-between television and virtual reality, a moment, a phase. The simulator is a moment that leads to cyberspace, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-simulator-is-the-stage-in-between-television-and-virtual-reality/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [Virtual Reality is really a new communication platform. By feeling truly present, you can share unbounded spaces and experiences with the people in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/virtual-reality-is-really-a-new-communication-platform-by-feeling/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [“Immersive tech like virtual reality inspires such rich emotions that it’s ripe for abuse. It’s still in its infancy, though, so it’s too soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-alter/immersive-tech-like-virtual-reality-inspires-such-rich-emotions-that/) [Adam Alter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-alter/) > [“You slept and went to the dream world, it was wonderful and then you woke up and found yourself in the nightmare world! If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-slept-and-went-to-the-dream-world-it-was-wonderful-and-then-you/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Virtual reality is a truly immersive medium and the level of graphics, already quite strong, will only continue to get better and better. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-leonard/virtual-reality-is-a-truly-immersive-medium-and-the-level-of-graphics/) [Brett Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-leonard/) > [Virtual reality, to me, seems to have a number of different tiers. Entry-level-tier VR is this experience: on a phone, some simple head-tracking, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deadmau5/virtual-reality-to-me-seems-to-have-a-number-of-different-tiers-entry/) [Deadmau5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deadmau5/) > [It would be nice if we could design a virtual reality in Hyperbolic Space, and meet each other there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/it-would-be-nice-if-we-could-design-a-virtual-reality-in-hyperbolic/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [It's not virtual reality until you can be tortured to death in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-plotkin/it-s-not-virtual-reality-until-you-can-be-tortured-to-death-in-it/) [Andrew Plotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-plotkin/) > [I can imagine people actually working in virtual environments where productive, cooperative work is undertaken, and I think we will find people helping others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinton-cerf/i-can-imagine-people-actually-working-in-virtual-environments-where/) [Vinton Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinton-cerf/) > [Putting you into a virtual world really allows you to think differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-su/putting-you-into-a-virtual-world-really-allows-you-to-think/) [Lisa Su](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-su/) > [The telephone is virtual reality in that you can meet with someone as if you are together, at least for the auditory sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/the-telephone-is-virtual-reality-in-that-you-can-meet-with-someone-as/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) ## More by Paul Virilio > [“It is, in fact, impossible clearly to distinguish economic war from information war, since each involves the same hegemonic ambition of making commercial and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/it-is-in-fact-impossible-clearly-to-distinguish-economic-war-from/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [There is a French expression that says: to be exposed to an accident, to cross a street without looking at the cars means exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/there-is-a-french-expression-that-says-to-be-exposed-to-an-accident/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [There cannot be an animal body without a territorial body: three bodies are grafted over each other: the territorial body - the planet, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/there-cannot-be-an-animal-body-without-a-territorial-body-three/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [... the blinding Hiroshima flash... literally photographed the shadow cast by beings and things, so that every surface immediately became war's recording surface, its film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-blinding-hiroshima-flash-literally-photographed-the-shadow-cast/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [GPS not only played a large and delocalizing role in the war in Kosovo but is increasingly playing a role in social life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/gps-not-only-played-a-large-and-delocalizing-role-in-the-war-in/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [The Gulf War may not have occurred in the actual global space, but it did occur in global time. And this thanks to CNN…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-gulf-war-may-not-have-occurred-in-the-actual-global-space-but-it/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [The cinema was certainly an art, but television can't be, because it is the museum of accidents. In other words, its art is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-cinema-was-certainly-an-art-but-television-can-t-be-because-it-is/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [What happened in Kosovo was the exact reversal of what happened in 'Fortress Europe' in 1943-45. Let me explain. Air Marshall 'Bomber' Harris used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/what-happened-in-kosovo-was-the-exact-reversal-of-what-happened-in/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [There are eyes everywhere. No blind spot left. What shall we dream of when everything becomes visible? We'll dream of being blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/there-are-eyes-everywhere-no-blind-spot-left-what-shall-we-dream-of/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [I am of course thinking here about new planes such as the Sukhois. There is very little discussion about such developments but, for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/i-am-of-course-thinking-here-about-new-planes-such-as-the-sukhois/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [Moreover, I would like to say that the sort of polar inertia we witnessed in the Kosovo War, the polar inertia involving 'automated war'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/moreover-i-would-like-to-say-that-the-sort-of-polar-inertia-we/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [How can we live if there is no more here and everything is now?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/how-can-we-live-if-there-is-no-more-here-and-everything-is-now/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [The simulator is the stage in-between television and virtual reality, a moment, a phase. The simulator is a moment that leads to cyberspace, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-simulator-is-the-stage-in-between-television-and-virtual-reality/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [These new technologies try to make virtual reality more powerful than actual reality, which is the true accident. The day when virtual reality becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/these-new-technologies-try-to-make-virtual-reality-more-powerful-than/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [It will no longer be war that is the continuation of politics by other means, it will be what I have dubbed 'the integral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/it-will-no-longer-be-war-that-is-the-continuation-of-politics-by/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) [Explore all 181 Paul Virilio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. 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She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I'm a dreamer and continue to dream of what can and will be, "Expecting great things from God, Attempting great things for God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/i-m-a-dreamer-and-continue-to-dream-of-what-can-and-will-be-expecting/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [I swear you’re a woman. (Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy-is-thrown-away-in-attempting/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-am-not-attempting-to-preserve-culture-or-record-actual-events-or/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) [Browse all 513 Attempting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The technologies of virtual reality are attempting to make us see from beneath, from inside, from behind... as if we were God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Virilio" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are-attempting-to-make-us-see/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attempting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are-attempting-to-make-us-see/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/paul-virilio-2130_attempting_the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are_120568.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/paul-virilio-2130_attempting_the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are_120568.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/paul-virilio-2130_attempting_the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are_120568.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The technologies of virtual reality are attempting to make us see from beneath, from inside, from behind…” — Paul Virilio", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Virilio", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The technologies of virtual reality are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are-attempting-to-make-us-see/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-technologies-of-virtual-reality-are-attempting-to-make-us-see/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```