Embodiment is defined as the way in which human psychology arises from the brain's and body's physiology (wikipedia.com). Dreyfus examines the issue of embodiment in his book "On the Internet". Dreyfus feels that internet relationships can only go so far--that finding one's true essence lies in being with them in person. But how accurate is this viewpoint, really? If you think about relationships, the first thing that comes to mind is probably someone close to you, physically. Family, close friends, significant others, etc. But what if your best friend lives 3,000 miles away. Does that mean your relationship with them is not as good as one in close proximity to you?

There are both pros and cons to developments in technology that make communication with others more efficient. A pro is that you can stay in close contact with someone that lives far away, and possibly even sustain a romantic relationship through phone calls and webcam viewings. Nothing can replace that persons "presence" but technology is coming closer to it. Some are more able to express themselves through writing than in person (saying "I'm sorry" for example, has become rather popular to hear in a text message or email) which can be seen as both positive and negative. This is positive for the one apologizing because it removes the chance of hostile conflict. It can be viewed as negative to the person recieving the message because that person then has to question the sincerity of the apology.