Do you believe we live in a simulation?

The theory is not a modern one. French Philosopher René Descartes in 1637 proposed the idea that all of reality could be a dream in our own head. He was the one that coined the phrase "cogito, ergo sum", I think, therefore I am. The idea that reality as we know it is either a simulation or a dream, both possibilities are equally believable to me. By which I mean not very believable at all.

Portrait_of_René_Descartes,_bust,_three-quarter_facing_left_in_an_oval_border,_(white_backgrou...png


I mean look at this guy. You can't tell me he wouldn't be a modern day reddit mod/troon.
 
If we live in a simulation, how do we know that we are not of the simulation rather outsiders inserted into it?

If we are of the simulation, then what is the difference? What is the world not in a simulation rather than the world in this hypothetical simulation? What properties would it have for its inhabitants that we aren't getting?

I mean, maybe a moment ago never existed and the start time of the simulation was you reading this sentence. And maybe it will end once you finish this one. No? Well then you can assume your actions have all the consequences they would otherwise have too, and so you must act as if you are not in a simulation.

So everything meaningfully is the same, and by that I mean opinions differ but no more or less than before. So if we live in a simulation we may as well assume we are of it and this is our universe.

Especially this, this is definitely the same no matter the condition of the universe:

It has every property that a real observation or a simulated observation would have, that of magnificence itself.
 
Last edited:
Unless someone can explain how you can "live" in something other than reality, I think the question becomes more like "Do we experience something other than 'real objective reality'?",; to which the answer is pretty obviously yes, but requires no argument about technology or whatever.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Named User
Unless someone can explain how you can "live" in something other than reality
The idea is, if something like a computer system were to mathematically model and simulate a physical space, and your body along with all the physical processes of your body, including your brain, then there would in effect be a person in this space with similar thoughts, capabilities and sensations as yourself. The arguments and explanations for why this being is alive in its environment are then the same as any arguments or explanations which you might construct or present, to convince us that you are alive.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MichaelHolly
By definition we experience a simulation of reality. Our senses are very finely tuned to observe “what is” but they’re limited in their scope. Dreams aren’t “real,” but you definitely experience them. Where do they land in reality? Who’s to say we wouldn’t be able to induct ourselves into a shared dream? And as others have said, if the laws of physics allow nested perfect simulations, it’s far more likely that we would be experiencing one than the “original” universe. Maybe existence is just a set of penrose steps, and we inhabit one level. Obviously though, anyone pretending this sort of speculation is any more rational than religion is deluding themselves. Any creator of a simulation would necessarily be the god of it.
 
Nah, it doesn't really sit well with me. And if we are, it's so indistinguishable for us that it doesn't really matter.
 
The one thing that gives me pause is the double slit experiment. That looks a hell of a lot to me like something not being rendered in until it's needed.
Even if we are in a simulation, it's the same "who created god" turtles all the way down argument. If we are simulated, something made us. It doesn't give you an answer to original creation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MichaelHolly
if reality is a simulation? how do I speedrun it?
 
I believe we don't live in a simulation, but rather, a machine comprised of a thousand rock wheels giving us the illusion of sight, and in reality, we're just a stone wheel
Why?
because it's funny
 
If we were living a simulation then I wonder why a reset button hasn't been pressed. We've progressed to far, we need to restart from the beginning.
 
If it was a simulation why would you include things like pooping? like you spent time coding pooping mini-games within your simulation.
It's probably one of those evolutionary AI models. All the simulation technically needs to do is simulate the laws of physics as well as the state information for every single particle in existence (so just imagine what the world outside the simulation would have to be like to produce that kind of processing power...) then you add matter to the simulation and things just play out according to the rules you've set up.

Unless you're going for the Last-Thursday-ism then yes that is pretty weird.
 
In my more insane moments, I ascribe to the theory, that we are all ethereal beings who have broken the rules of the ethereal dimension and are put into physical forms as a punishment.
We are all in a prison with no way of escape until we have served our time.
Try to leave early (i.e suicide) it's back to beginning to start all over again.
But most of the time this isn't actually something I genuinely believe.
Gnostic moments. We all have them. The physical body as a prison is considered work of the Demiurge in Gnosticism.
If it was a simulation why would you include things like pooping? like you spent time coding pooping mini-games within your simulation.
IBD sufferers want to know.
 
Last edited:
  • Informative
Reactions: Death Grip
Back