Thoughts regarding the universe being a simulation

[BrunoMattei]

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/elon-musk-simulated-universe-hypothesis?utm_source=mbtwitter

I don't know how highly regarded Motherboard is since it is Vice but Elon Musk having the thought that our world is maybe a simulation lends at least some credence to this theory.

I am unsure what the end game is for this theory: if we realize and prove that this world is a fake, what then? What do we do next? Do we break out? Can we break out? If reality is not a simulation of some kind or some sort of illusion then all's right with the world.

 

[Kazami Yuuka]

Simulation theory is quite possibly the most idiotic assertion of philosophers as of recent. The meat of the matter is that these people have become bored with the world, so they come up with these far fetched theories to believe in (Science-ology if you will). It's people who think they're too good for religion, so they invent another belief system, clouded in smug, not realizing they've merely reinvented religion.

I am unsure what the end game is for this theory: if we realize and prove that this world is a fake, what then? What do we do next? Do we break out? Can we break out? If reality is not a simulation of some kind or some sort of illusion then all's right with the world.

The real question is: does it matter if we really are in a simulation? The truth is that answering that question does absolutely nothing for us. At least Bill Gates is doing something with malaria prevention. Elon Musk just sits around trying to sound intellectual, accomplishing nothing.

 

[DumbDosh]

Simulation theory is quite possibly the most idiotic assertion of philosophers as of recent. The meat of the matter is that these people have become bored with the world, so they come up with these far fetched theories to believe in (Science-ology if you will). It's people who think they're too good for religion, so they invent another belief system, clouded in smug, not realizing they've merely reinvented religion.



The real question is: does it matter if we really are in a simulation? The truth is that answering that question does absolutely nothing for us. At least Bill Gates is doing something with malaria prevention. Elon Musk just sits around trying to sound intellectual, accomplishing nothing.

I totally agree, if we somehow came to the realization that we're all nothing but simulations talking to each other I see that information being more harmful than helpful to the human race as "well who cares if I kill my neighbor, it's no different from deleting a computer program". I don't care about research going into simulation theory because we have far more pressing questions and issues that need to be handled first.

One of my favorite stories is I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream where there is a strong theory that everything taking place in that story is a simulation but it really wouldn't make a difference in how I viewed the story. Like the only thing that would come with proving we're a simulation is that there would have to be a higher power who created it.

 

[Oh Long Johnson]

I haven't googled to refresh my memory but I think the big thing is the uncanny way some 2d models of spacetime projected as 3d actually fit our reality. Or at least it was something like that. You're basically left with the implication that our perceived 3d reality doesn't actually work the way you'd expect a 3d spacetime would.

As for the implications, I'd say there are none. True randomization doesn't really exist (I don't think the atmosphere thing even counts given sufficient processing power) so if we're just simulations, well, we have no free will and exist in a LaPlace-esque universe where everything we do was predicted from go.

As an aside, saying Elon Musk has accomplished nothing is ignorant.

 

[BrunoMattei]

I totally agree, if we somehow came to the realization that we're all nothing but simulations talking to each other I see that information being more harmful than helpful to the human race as "well who cares if I kill my neighbor, it's no different from deleting a computer program". I don't care about research going into simulation theory because we have far more pressing questions and issues that need to be handled first.

I think you're assuming, much like Atheism, that if we somehow discover that we live in a program that we would instantly succumb to madness. Just like the argument that Atheists have no morality.

I would argue that if the theory is proven true that mankind would strive to better themselves rather than wallow in pity and lawlessness.

 

[DumbDosh]

I think you're assuming, much like Atheism, that if we somehow discover that we live in a program that we would instantly succumb to madness. Just like the argument that Atheists have no morality.

I would argue that if the theory is proven true that mankind would strive to better themselves rather than wallow in pity and lawlessness.

Why do you think mankind would strive to better a simulation?

 

[KingGeedorah]

I would argue that if the theory is proven true that mankind would strive to better themselves rather than wallow in pity and lawlessness.

Have you even played the Sims? Pretty sure humanity would do dumb shit just to see what happens.

 

[Male Idiot]

This theory is propably the most autistic thing that ever hit these forums, and that is quite an achivement.

Matrix is not real, and while we are at it, neither is the silly blue cat planet. You won't be reincarnated as a blue furry indian.

 

[Positron]

To unpack Musk's line of argument a bit: if technology is advanced enough to simulate reality, it is likely advanced enough (or can quickly becomes advanced enough) to simulate millions or billions of different realities. Given there is one "reality" and countless number of "fake-alities", if we are to make a wager, it pays to bet on fake-ality.

Hilary Putnam has put forward a definite rebuttal to the simulation (or brain-in-a-vat) argument, but it is very technical and I don't understand it.

I am unsure what the end game is for this theory: if we realize and prove that this world is a fake, what then? What do we do next? Do we break out? Can we break out? If reality is not a simulation of some kind or some sort of illusion then all's right with the world.

There is no such thing as "breaking out"; it is like asking what lies outside the universe.

 

[BrunoMattei]

To me it's the idea of it that's interesting.

There is no such thing as "breaking out"; it is like asking what lies outside the universe.

But to be fair, we only understand 1% of the universe. I think Bill Hicks summed it up:

 

[polonium]

This is one of those things that's interesting to think about but has zero impact on the day-to-day world, even if it could be categorically proven to be true.
I'd be somewhat interested to know what would be the point of simulating an entire reality? If it was a sufficiently detailed model of the "real" reality I suppose it might be useful for testing theories about that reality. But say we imagined ourselves a 2D universe with a whole bunch of 2D planets and stars within it and watched them evolve two dimensional life and how it interacted with its environemnts, other than a "because I can" or a weird art installation, what use would it be?
I guess someone way smarter than me would have an answer for that.

 

[DuskEngine]

A simulation is necessarily a model of something, that is, something that is in some way an abstracted or simplified representation of the thing it is meant to simulate.

A 1:1 simulation of a universe (whatever the fuck that even means) is just a universe.

 

[ToroidalBoat]

If life were a simulation and if I could hack into it, I'd probably change A LOT of things. Like overwriting data so there's no extreme poverty in Somalia, for example.

 

[DuskEngine]

If life were a simulation and if I could hack into it, I'd change A LOT of things. Like overwriting data so there's no extreme poverty in Somalia, for example.

Achieve CHIM.

 

[gaybashing<3]

wouldn't life then have cheatcodes

 

[Sailor_Jupiter]

If this is a simulation, where is the Gameshark? //heading for unlimited money and lives hack//

 

[Olhelm]

Were the universe a simulation, would it matter, really? Consider solipsism in conjunction with this theory. If you were the only real thing, if everything you touched, saw or smelled was fake, well, who are you to say that you are not fake? You may think, but that is easy enough to accomplish with an advanced-enough AI.

Spoiler: error

you are not in a simulation. you are the simulation.

 

[smallmilk]

If this is a simulation, turn it off pls

 

[unshaven]

Have you even played the Sims? Pretty sure humanity would do dumb shit just to see what happens.

If life's a simulation that'd explain all the times I fell asleep in a puddle of my own piss

 

[Lurkman]

If it's a simulation, why the fuck can't I go back on my worst mistakes and missed opportunities and go back and fix/get them? It's all a simulation, simulators have different routes and choices and you can usually go back in time for those.

For fucks sake, this theory is some of the weirdest drabble I've ever heard coming from the tinfoil hat wearing community.