Modern technology can give us some idea of potency of the virtual world. Some simulated experiences come very close to seeming real. Alphoma will, of course, be vastly more sophisticated. At our relatively primitive stage of evolution we can but vaguely guess at what the final state will be like. The crucial point is that it will certainly be possible to generate mental processes which make events seem totally ‘real’. And there will be no pain and no decay. BACK