I Virtualize, Therefore I Am

Name: I Virtualize, Therefore I Am
ISBN: 9787214310910

杜骏飞Jiangsu People's Publishing House · ChinaSep 2026

3.8

Word count: 282K words
Chapters: 128
ISBN: 9787214310910

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Summary

Cutting-edge technology is creating an unprecedented virtual age. Framed by the concept of “communicative humanism,” this book presents a theoretical narrative in the philosophy of media. Its central claim: the virtual age has not so much transformed the world as it has transformed people. And it has not so much transformed people as it has transformed their epistemology—above all, how they come to know themselves.

The proposition “I am virtualized, therefore I am” is meant to show that virtual reality is not virtual but a reality people generate for themselves; that human virtual existence is not virtual either but part of humanity’s “greater existence”; and that the notion of a “cyber mind” refers not only to virtual environments but also maps real human existence. From this logical starting point, the book discusses ontological, subjective, and life-related questions in the digital Anthropocene, and interprets the nature of digital existence, digital death, and digital immortality.

Editor's review

Du Junfei, using "interactive humanism" as his conceptual framework, proposes the media-philosophical proposition "I virtualize, therefore I am," attempting to overturn the usual understanding of the virtual age: virtual reality is not virtual but a reality of human self-generation; and human virtual existence is not a false appendage but part of a "greater existence." Starting from this logical point, the book discusses questions of ontology, subjectivity, and views of life in the digital Anthropocene, extending to the nature of digital survival, digital death, and digital immortality. Its value lies not in providing a technical how-to guide but in offering readers immersed in digital environments a set of conceptual tools for reflecting on their own situation. The writing has a theoretical-narrative character and a high density of concepts, suited to slow reading by those interested in media philosophy, digital culture, and technology ethics. Readers may find it helpful to compare the book's propositions with their own everyday digital experience—social media accounts, online identities, and the retention of memory—to enter more easily into the author's problematic.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in media philosophy, digital culture, and technology ethics who want a conceptual framework.
Researchers and students in the humanities and social sciences who need theoretical reference on digital survival issues.
Deep readers who have long used social platforms and want to reflect on online identity and the self.
Those concerned with frontier ethical discussions such as digital immortality and digital death who seek a systematic overview.

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for technical how-to guides or product manuals: the book offers no instrumental instruction.
Casual readers who prefer light narrative and avoid abstract concepts will find it heavy going.
Readers expecting empirical data or case-analysis-driven work: the book leans toward theoretical narrative.

Reading tips

Read the introduction first to clarify the basic meanings of "interactive humanism" and "I virtualize, therefore I am" before proceeding.
After each chapter, give an example from your own digital life to test the book's propositions.
When concepts become dense, don't force full comprehension at once; mark them and return to the relevant chapters later.
Take brief notes separately on the three themes of digital survival, digital death, and digital immortality to trace the book's thread.

About the publisher

Jiangsu People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1953

Jiangsu People's Publishing House is known for works in history, literature and the social sciences. Judging from its catalog, it focuses on modern Chinese history, classical literary appreciation and scholarly research. Representative titles include historical works such as Kuomintang-Communist Cooperation and the National Revolution, 1924–1927 and A Record of Combat on the Front Lines of China's War of Resistance Against Japan, literary and visual documents such as Sun Wen's Illustrated Complete Dream of the Red Chamber, and scholarly collections such as Chen Yinke's Collected Works of Hanliu Hall. Translations such as The Dust Bowl and Anti-Intellectualism in American Life reflect an interest in overseas social and cultural studies. Its authors include historians Wang Qisheng, Huang Yuzhang and Guo Rugui, as well as figures associated with classical literature such as Cao Xueqin and Sun Wen. Common categories include history, literary appreciation, essays and miscellaneous writings, and social-science and cultural titles, showing a balance between historical scholarship and literature and between academic and popular publishing. Because public information is limited, this overview is based only on the books in the catalog.

版权信息
致谢
如何阅读本书?
导读
（一）存在论
（二）心灵观
（三）生命观
（四）主体论
（五）生死观
（六）拟在的人
一非空与非有
（一）超真实：梦幻泡影
1. 现实抵消
2. 拟像与仿真
3. 以梦为马
（二）拟在：虚拟与生成
1. 何为虚拟？
2. 拟在论
（三）选择：真实与原真
1. 何为真实？
2. 选择论
（四）空有：多世界诠释
1. 多世界的连续
2. 交往的空有论
二赛博心灵
（一）意识转移
1. 意识之问
2. 人的联机
3. 物种宿命
（二）数字忒修斯
1. 雷神的战斧
2. 被忽略的“人”
（三）心身问题
1. 以心之名
2. 先心与后心
3. 赛博心灵说
4. 心身矩阵
（四）网中之脑
1. 缸中之脑
2. 心身不对等
（五）拟在的人
1. “在”的完形
2. 庄周之问
三见众生
（一）数字基因
1. 比特与原子
2. 演化与共生
（二）虚拟的生存
1. 人工生命
2. 从身体到灵魂
（三）共演与新人
1. 生命的交织
2. 广义的人
（四）见众生
1. 因交往而生命
2. 交往博弈
（五）交往人类主义
1. 一多共存
2. 新世界的秩序
四似人非人
（一）人机互嵌：“共主体”问题
1. AI代理/智能体
2. 行为主体
3. 共主体性
（二）机器觉醒：“它主体”问题
1. 不似人的非人
2. “它主体”
3. 开放定义
4. 重思“意向性”
（三）气态部落：“云主体”问题
1. 流动性
2. 部落云
3. 弥散的人
4. 赛博格阶梯
（四）新主体生命：三重危机
1. 两个隐喻
2. 心脑入侵
3. 主体困境
4. 道德危机
5. 责任危机
6. 权力危机
7. 何以新人文
五虚拟化生存
（一）数字生死
1. 虚拟生存
2. “自我”与“人”
3. 生死混沌
（二）交往间性
1. 间性论
2. 此在论
3. 数字化生存
（三）平行时空
1. 异体性
2. 连续统
3. 双线生命
（四）结语
六死亡自尊
（一）死亡的发明
1. 死亡文化
2. 打开公共性
3. 灵性的身份
（二）死亡的自尊
1. 数字幽存
2. 被动重生
3. 死亡劳动
（三）死亡的控制
1. 数字遗骸
2. 数字遗产
3. 悬疑和焦虑
4. 死亡的不平等
5. 结语
七永常与永恒
（一）象征性不朽
1. 单向与双向
2. 超越无常
（二）技术性长生
1. 不同的永生
2. 交往与永生
（三）解脱之门
1. AGI永生
2. 超人类与后人类
3. 永常与永恒
附录
一忒修斯的回忆
二 “数字交往”的观念
三 “数字交往哲学”关键词
概念索引
跋 “传播人三部曲”

FAQ

What does the phrase "I virtualize, therefore I am" mean?

According to the introduction, this assertion is meant to show that virtual reality is not virtual but a reality of human self-generation; and human virtual existence is likewise not virtual but part of a person's "greater existence." The author thereby emphasizes that what the virtual age truly transforms is the way humans understand themselves, not merely the external world.

What are the core issues discussed in the book?

Using "interactive humanism" as its conceptual framework, the book unfolds from questions of ontology, subjectivity, and views of life in the digital Anthropocene, and further interprets the nature of digital survival, digital death, and digital immortality. It is a theoretical narrative in the sense of media philosophy, not an introduction to specific technological applications.

Does reading this book require a philosophical background?

The book has a high density of concepts and involves philosophical issues such as ontology and subjectivity; readers with some experience in humanities and social science reading will find it easier to enter. Without a philosophical background, one may first read the introduction to grasp the basic propositions, then proceed chapter by chapter at a slow pace, without forcing full understanding of every concept at once.

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About the author

杜骏飞 Author

Du Junfei is one of the authors writing in Chinese in the fields of language and the humanities and social sciences. Public information about him is limited, and no clear record of his birth and death years, nationality, or educational background is available. Judging from the four works held in the library, his writing spans several subjects: On Digital Communication and I Am Virtual, Therefore I Am focus on modes of interaction and the experience of virtual existence in the digital age, with a reflective tone; Awakening: The Power of Growing Up and A Course in Common Sense turn toward inspirational growth and applied psychology, addressing general readers on self-understanding and everyday judgment. His works are commonly classified under language and writing, social science, inspirational growth, and applied psychology, suggesting a style that balances theoretical discussion with concern for daily life. His language is plain and grounded, and he strives to bring abstract issues down to concrete experience. Overall, he is a writer attentive to digital life and personal growth, addressing a general readership and keeping an open stance across several fields.