Possible Worlds Why Do Children Pretend By Alison Gopnik

The perception of reality varies for each individual throughout space and time. In Alison Gopnik’s short story, “Possible Worlds: Why Do Children Pretend?” she elaborately discusses the importance of counterfactual thinking and imagination. Gopnik explains how the ability to pretend influences decision making and the development of modern technology. Sherry Turkle’s story, “Alone Together,” is an in depth example of how advances in technology are shaping society. The exposure to modern technology and new knowledge of the technology creates a barrier between individuals. This barrier is not only between generations, but between people who have experienced technology in different ways. What is considered normal or a reality, for those who have

little knowledge about modern technology or are less dependent on it, will be different from someone who has grown up with it or a person who lacks social skills and uses it to their advantage. As Gopnik explains, although it seems we are living in the same reality, everyone has their own counterfactuals of what could or should be in the future. As time passes, knowledge of modern technology will increase, altering the perception of reality between individuals who have a clear understanding of the differences in reality and fantasy and those who combine the two to make an alternative world.
The significance of authenticity differs between people of different age groups.

Some people argue that the purpose of an object is not how real it is real, but how efficiently and genuinely it symbolizes what it is trying to represent. Turkle describes a situation when she was visiting the Darwin exhibition with real tortoises from the Galapogos Islands. While watching the inactive tortoises miserably sit in the exhibit, a twelve year old girl suggests a robot turtle would be more practical than a live one (Turkle 265). The twelve year old girl reasoned that mechanical animals would be more realistic than real animals because robot animal can be programmed impersonate how the animals act in their natural habitat, whereas the real animals in the exhibit did nothing at all. The young girl advocates that having robots in place of animals is adequate and “for what the turtles do, you didn’t have to have to lives ones (Turkle 266). The girl is suggesting that pretending mechanical animals are real will better exemplify the real animals. Gopnik would imply that this is because, “[children] spend hours pretending, but they know that they are pretending” (Gopnik 171). In this scenario the children understand to pretend and appreciate the authenticity of the robots actions that represent the real animals. The adults in the story did not understand why the children were not amused by the live animals. The children thought it would be more realistic to have a robot portray how the animals truly act in their habitat rather than watch them do nothing in an exhibit. The adults found the realness of the animals to be fascinating because their perception on the significance of authenticity is different from the children. The different generations have different view points on whether realism or accuracy is more important. Gopnik would agree that this is because people are able to use causal knowledge to imagine how a situation could be. Not only is the perception of reality

viewed differently when debating live animals versus robots, but also when people change or alter their identity through social media.
The internet gives access to virtual worlds, where people create virtual lives to represent themselves or create an alter ego. By doing this, people counterfactually think of a different life that they have created from their imagination. To describe counterfactuals, Gopnik says, “...these theories allow children to envisage new possibilities and to imagine and pretend that the world is different” (Gopnik 174). The different worlds people temporarily live in allow them to escape reality. Turkle expresses this idea using the example, “Creating an avatar…is a way to explore the self” (Turkle 273). Gopnik would agree that those who live in these worlds are not living in reality, but to some people online identities and gaming is very real. The consideration of robots being incorporated into our everyday lives will only increase interaction and dependency on technology. Turkle informs, “As sociable robots propose themselves as substitutes for people, new network devices offer us machine-mediated relationships with each other, another kind of substitution” (Turkle 264). Not only are people distancing themselves from reality through the use of the internet, but they will now have the ability to avoid interaction with people by having robots as companions. If this were to happen, the alternate worlds that Gopnik discusses will become a reality for some people. For those who have little knowledge about advances in technology, this idea is one that seems entirely irrational and improbable. Most people would find it difficult to imagine life with robots and would agree that it is not a reality. Gamers and technology dependent individuals would consider this a possible reality. As time passes, there is a possibility that eventually these alternative worlds, with robots as friends, will be considered a reality to more people who are introduced to them.
Traditional ways of living usually take more time and effort than modern living due to the absence of advanced technology. Technology conveniently makes life easier and is intended for people to be more productive. Gopnik says that by using maps, “you can discover that there were much shorter and more convenient routes you could have taken… [the map] lets you discover the most efficient route, without having to actually take each one.” Maps, whether they paper maps or maps we create in our head, are used to help solve problems and make plans to find a solution. In the same way that real maps and cognitive maps were once used to be more time efficient and help find a solution, our phones, computers and potential robots can do the same. For example, Turkle states, “some people are looking for robots to clean rugs and help with laundry. Others hope for a mechanical bride” (Turkle 264). In other words, people are looking for a simpler, shorter, and more convenient solution to deal with life. Instead of making plans to complete tasks, robots will be used to perform the duties for us. In addition, rather than using our brains to solve problems or get better at something, we use technology. Where individuals lack social skills and chose to interact online rather than face-to-face, David Levy, the author of Love and Sex with Robots, believes the solution will be to give them robot companions to further avoid interaction with real people. He has found as an easier, simpler to way to deal with the problem. In the past, it was normal to directly face fears and solve problems that could possibly take years however; future technology will change this idea. If the use of robots spreads throughout the world, attempting to problems that take too long will be seen as irrational and using robots will become a reality.
People who experience technology differently will all have different ways of viewing it. Some people will accept modern technology as a “new form of life,” while remaining an out of reach fantasy to others (Turkle 267). The imaginary counterfactuals discussed in “Possible Worlds: Why Do Children Pretend?” become a reality in Turkle’s story “Alone Together” and Turkle finds it problematic.