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> Or alternatively, perhaps we are in a simulation? A relatively cheap one, considering that if this planet is the only one inhabited, the other star systems c

> Or alternatively, perhaps we are in a simulation? A relatively cheap one, considering that if this planet is the only one inhabited, the other star systems can be approximated and don't require full simulation. Consider that time slows down when the speed is increased. This would be a good thing to do to restrict the computational requirements. And there's growing evidence that everything is quantized. Given that we probably can't measure anything smaller than a Planck length, that's the simulation resolution. That's probably not what's going on (the simulation hypothesis could be the 'magnetism' of our era) but it is fun to think about.

ithkuil 6y ago
Would if be computationally cheaper to just simulate our brains (our just one brain. Yours!) to give us the illusion the universe is whatever it is (quantized or not) rather than simulating the actual universe?
- falcor84 6y ago
  What do you mean? Wouldn't you still need to simulate the world in pretty much the same way to be able to feed consistent inputs into the simulated brain?
  - g-b-r 6y ago
    You're just feeling like you're being fed consistent inputs :)
    - ithkuil 6y ago
      And if you ever feel otherwise, the simulation will be rolled back and fixed :-)
  - ithkuil 6y ago
    There might be huge opportunities for pruning and approximation
- DougWebb 6y ago
  There is only one intelligent being in the entire universe. It's the entire universe, having a dream about being a human. And it's you.
Reedx 6y ago
That would make sense, those kind of optimizations are common in video games. Objects with physics go to sleep when they stop moving. Things off screen don't get rendered. Culling of objects based on distance or zoom level. Lots of tricks like those.
Yetanfou 6y ago
> A relatively cheap one, considering that if this planet is the only one inhabited, the other star systems can be approximated and don't require full simulation. Maybe we're in a functional test of a simulation of a universe? That'd explain the lack of signals from other civilisations...

ithkuil 6y ago

Would if be computationally cheaper to just simulate our brains (our just one brain. Yours!) to give us the illusion the universe is whatever it is (quantized or not) rather than simulating the actual universe?

falcor84 6y ago
What do you mean? Wouldn't you still need to simulate the world in pretty much the same way to be able to feed consistent inputs into the simulated brain?
- g-b-r 6y ago
  You're just feeling like you're being fed consistent inputs :)
  - ithkuil 6y ago
    And if you ever feel otherwise, the simulation will be rolled back and fixed :-)
- ithkuil 6y ago
  There might be huge opportunities for pruning and approximation
DougWebb 6y ago
There is only one intelligent being in the entire universe. It's the entire universe, having a dream about being a human. And it's you.

Reedx 6y ago

That would make sense, those kind of optimizations are common in video games. Objects with physics go to sleep when they stop moving. Things off screen don't get rendered. Culling of objects based on distance or zoom level. Lots of tricks like those.

Yetanfou 6y ago

> A relatively cheap one, considering that if this planet is the only one inhabited, the other star systems can be approximated and don't require full simulation. Maybe we're in a functional test of a simulation of a universe? That'd explain the lack of signals from other civilisations...