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A computer is a computer, and our universe is a computer. So, it's possible we're living in a simulation but not one that was intentionally constructed by a hig
by grupthink 3y ago
A computer is a computer, and our universe is a computer. So, it's possible we're living in a simulation but not one that was intentionally constructed by a higher life form, but rather, a simulation that emerged from nature (e.g. electrons whizzing along the surface of silica rock on a desolate planet). Our universe could recursively be computers all the way down.
- NayamAmarshe 3y agoA computer is always imperfect though, compared to the universe, which is very stable and extremely perfect to the last detail. I don't think we can even compare since the scale and the domain is so vast.
- codetrotter 3y agoIf a tree is standing in a forest, but no one is there to watch it. Does the tree get rendered every frame?
- archerx 3y agoYes, it does.
- ndsipa_pomu 3y agoNo, it doesn't.
- NayamAmarshe 3y agoDepends on the programmer.
- yazaddaruvala 3y agoDepends on the hardware being targeted.
- polishdude20 3y agoDepends on the deadline
- archerx 3y agoIf it is a simulation, what is it simulating? There would have to be a "real" reference to compare against?
- jasamer 3y agoI don't think a simulation needs to simulate anything real. Eg. if I have a program that runs Conway's game of life, that would be also be a simulation, but there's nothing "real" it references against. In other words, the universe simulating ours might work completely differently, and some beings there are just testing how different laws of physics (i.e. ours) work out.
- archerx 3y agoThe definition of simulation is: imitation of a situation or process. "simulation of blood flowing through arteries and veins" I love the game of life but I don't really consider it a simulation, it's a toy that with the right parameters could simulate something.
- wruza 3y agosome beings there are just testing how different laws of physics (i.e. ours) work out Or there is a practical use like energy extraction. Or they live (if that even applies) in a universe that generates what our closest concepts of are e.g. time and energy, and they have to spend them massively in simulations to survive. Or their laws of nature tend to overcommunicate (dilute) them into a single being, so they simulate everything we see for islands of “themselves” to remain distinct. They split themselves endlessly with perception because that’s the trick in their situation. One of my nightmares is to wake up from this and realize you woken up from a mild depression into a horror of a true existence, and this isn’t even a final level. Makes sense, since if god is infinite, why shouldn’t he be infinitely suffering. Why would he (you) create all this if not to escape from null-reality.
- zamadatix 3y agoIf I launch a random cellular automaton there isn't as much a real reference I'm trying to compare it to as just seeing what cool things it does. Maybe I can coax it into something comparable if I want, e.g. pick rule 110 and set it up to run ChatGPT and write this comment, but the only "realness" requirement is it follow what logic allows not it has a real reference it's supposed to emulate and be compared to.
- AltruisticGapHN 3y agoThe simulation theory simply postpones the hard problem of consciousness. It's like a magician trick, pulling wool over the eyes, moving your attention away from the real problem long enough, so that you stop thinking about it.
- quickthrower2 3y agoEven without consciousness, the existence of the universe faces the same causality issues.
- docandrew 3y agoAll the talk of simulations, multiverses, etc is IMO expending a lot of effort to avoid facing the possibility of a Creator - the “uncaused cause” or something existing outside of time and space.
- programmer_dude 3y agoThe presence of a creator does not change anything. Who created the creator?
- docandrew 3y agoThat’s the point - something completely beyond our notions of causality or the arrow of time has to be at the foundation of it.
- NayamAmarshe 3y agoThe creator remains without a creation. The notion that most schools of thought have is, the creator is unborn and born at the same time and has always existed. Creator does not have a point of creation, not even death because those rules only apply to the materialistic universe.
- programmer_dude 3y ago
- bryanrasmussen 3y ago>it's possible we're living in a simulation but not one that was intentionally constructed by a higher life form, what about a simulation constructed by us. the conceit of The Invisibles comics.