Virtasi

Virtasi is a neologism used in ethical discourse to denote the normative framework that governs virtuous conduct within virtual environments. The term blends the idea of virtue with a scholarly field of study, signaling a focus on moral evaluation in mediated, non-physical contexts rather than only in traditional face-to-face interactions.

Definition and scope: Virtasi concerns how actions and decisions in virtual spaces should align with human flourishing and social well-being. It addresses issues such as consent, privacy, representation, accountability, and the potential real-world impact of virtual experiences. The concept invites consideration of both user behavior and the responsibilities of designers, platform operators, and developers of immersive technologies and autonomous agents.

Origins and usage: Virtasi has emerged in late 2010s and 2020s discussions of digital and AI ethics. It is often presented as a complement to established frameworks like virtue ethics and digital ethics, extending their questions to virtual realms, simulated alt realities, and interaction with intelligent systems.

Key dimensions: Core concerns include accountability for virtual agents and platforms, transparency of algorithms and data practices, consent and autonomy in data use and immersion, respectful representation and inclusion of diverse users, empathy and social trust in online communities, and harm mitigation in immersive environments.

Applications: The concept informs game design ethics, governance of social virtual reality spaces, digital economies, and the conduct of AI agents operating in virtual hosts or assistants.

Criticism: Some scholars view virtasi as vague or redundant with existing ethical frameworks, while others value it as a focused lens for the evolving ethical landscape of increasingly immersive technologies. See also: Virtue ethics, Digital ethics, Virtual reality, AI ethics.