Do Virtual Entities Have Ontological Status? A Processual Virtual Ontology Framework

This thesis examines the fundamental question of whether virtual entities possess ontological status, developing a novel theoretical framework called Processual Virtual Ontology (PVO). Through comprehensive analysis of contemporary philosophical debates, this work identifies critical gaps in existing approaches and proposes a revolutionary understanding of virtual existence. The PVO framework conceptualizes virtual entities as processual relational emergences that exist in a distinct ontological category characterized by temporal constitution, relational emergence, phenomenological grounding, graduated reality, and processual autonomy. Unlike previous theories that treat virtual entities as either identical to digital objects (Chalmers' virtual digitalism) or as fictional constructs (McDonnell & Wildman's virtual fictionalism), PVO provides a nuanced account that recognizes virtual entities as genuine ontological phenomena while maintaining their distinctiveness from physical reality. The framework introduces a quantitative measure of Virtual Ontological Status (VOS) based on five dimensions: Processual Intensity, Relational Complexity, Phenomenological Engagement, Emergent Autonomy, and Ontological Persistence. Through rigorous philosophical argumentation, empirical validation possibilities, and comprehensive comparative analysis, this thesis demonstrates that virtual entities do indeed possess ontological status, but of a fundamentally processual and relational nature that transcends traditional substance-based ontologies. The implications extend beyond academic philosophy to practical considerations in law, ethics, and technology policy as virtual worlds become increasingly central to human experience.