o:8041 METAPHYSICS OF THE VIRTUAL: FROM PLATO’S CAVE TO MODERN VR—QUESTIONING REALITY’S ESSENCE en Virtual Reality (VR) technology and its metaphysical implications pose critical questions concerning the nature of reality, a conundrum that has enthralled thinkers since Plato’s epoch. Plato’s allegory of the cave emphasized the world of forms over the shadowy illusions, emphasizing a layered reality. Contemporary VR challenges this stratification, bringing forth constructed realities that overlap, enhance, or even replace tangible experiences. Drawing upon a plethora of scholarly articles, this essay examines VR’s metaphysical dimensions, juxtaposing ancient philosophical delineations of reality against the transformative implications of VR technologies. Virtual Reality, Plato’s Cave, Metaphysics, Reality, Simulation, Digital Representation. 2025-07-29T09:21:22.264Z 44 no 46 Borivoje Baltezarević Институт за српску културу Приштина-Лепосавић 0000-0002-6798-6981 application/pdf 498022 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8041 no yes 1 70 1552253 71A06 Megatrend revija 20 3 165 172 2023