This is like asking whether god exists. Until there is some evidence one way or the other, it is pointless to consider the question seriously. Though it's wor

This is like asking whether god exists. Until there is some evidence one way or the other, it is pointless to consider the question seriously. Though it's worth noting that the total ignorance implied by the lack of evidence about the purpose of the universe implies that any specific speculation on the question is almost certainly incorrect. Fun to think about, though. Have you read Greg Egan's Permutation City or Diaspora? http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/PERMUTATION/Permutation.html http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/PERMUTATION/Permuta... http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/DIASPORA/DIASPORA.html http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/DIASPORA/DIASPORA.h...