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Simulated Universe?

Skeptic Bob

Skeptic Bob

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Alright, let me get this out of the way. This is pure speculation and hypothesizing. It is not based on fact and is untestable. This conversation is just for fun, as thinking about the nature of reality often is.

Have you ever wondered about the possibility of us living in a simulated universe? Some questions that arise from the simulated universe hypothesis are:

1. Is it theoretically possible for technology to advance to the point that creating a simulated universe would be possible?

2. If it IS theoretically possible, then would the owners of such a technology utilize it?

3. If they did utilize it, would they only run it once or many, many times?

Question 1: So I can't really come up with a reason why it wouldn't be theoretically possible. If you are a materialist, like me, there is no reason to believe that even being capable of consciousness could not arise from sophisticated enough programming. I am aware of the argument that such a computer would have to be bigger than the universe we inhabit in order to replicate perfectly. But who is to say that the universe in which the simulation is being run isn't larger by many orders of magnitude? There is also no reason that that our universe would have to be perfectly replicated down to the quantum particle detail throughout the universe. It would just have to adjust the level of detail when being in the simulated universe looked at it. The very nature of our universe seems to prohibit us from observing too much detail, such as the speed of light and the "fuzziness" of things when you drill down to the quantum level.

Question 2: To me this is obvious. If a society was capable of simulating such a universe, of course they would do it. We would. The reasons for doing so could be numerous. Science, curiosity, entertainment.

Question 3: This also seems obvious. They wouldn't run a simulation just once. They would run it numerous times on numerous computers, testing different scenarios. What may seem to be billions of years passing in our universe may only hours or days in the simulator's universe.

So, IF it is such simulations are theoretically possible then is it more likely that we are living in the "real" universe or one of the countless simulations?

In the big picture it doesn't really matter. Even if our inverse is simulated it is real to us. But it is fun to think about.
 
I have thought about this. If there is nothing new under the sun I would say that we are actually existing within some kind of simulation.
 
To quote the Great Philosopher, "What difference does it make?"
 
BrewerBob said:
Alright, let me get this out of the way. This is pure speculation and hypothesizing. It is not based on fact and is untestable. This conversation is just for fun, as thinking about the nature of reality often is.

Have you ever wondered about the possibility of us living in a simulated universe? Some questions that arise from the simulated universe hypothesis are:

1. Is it theoretically possible for technology to advance to the point that creating a simulated universe would be possible?

2. If it IS theoretically possible, then would the owners of such a technology utilize it?

3. If they did utilize it, would they only run it once or many, many times?

Question 1: So I can't really come up with a reason why it wouldn't be theoretically possible. If you are a materialist, like me, there is no reason to believe that even being capable of consciousness could not arise from sophisticated enough programming. I am aware of the argument that such a computer would have to be bigger than the universe we inhabit in order to replicate perfectly. But who is to say that the universe in which the simulation is being run isn't larger by many orders of magnitude? There is also no reason that that our universe would have to be perfectly replicated down to the quantum particle detail throughout the universe. It would just have to adjust the level of detail when being in the simulated universe looked at it. The very nature of our universe seems to prohibit us from observing too much detail, such as the speed of light and the "fuzziness" of things when you drill down to the quantum level.

Question 2: To me this is obvious. If a society was capable of simulating such a universe, of course they would do it. We would. The reasons for doing so could be numerous. Science, curiosity, entertainment.

Question 3: This also seems obvious. They wouldn't run a simulation just once. They would run it numerous times on numerous computers, testing different scenarios. What may seem to be billions of years passing in our universe may only hours or days in the simulator's universe.

So, IF it is such simulations are theoretically possible then is it more likely that we are living in the "real" universe or one of the countless simulations?

In the big picture it doesn't really matter.
Even if our inverse is simulated it is real to us.
Click to expand...
 But it is fun to think about.
Click to expand...



Our universe is real to everyone who experiences it. :roll:
 
BrewerBob said:
Alright, let me get this out of the way. This is pure speculation and hypothesizing. It is not based on fact and is untestable. This conversation is just for fun, as thinking about the nature of reality often is.

Have you ever wondered about the possibility of us living in a simulated universe? Some questions that arise from the simulated universe hypothesis are:

1. Is it theoretically possible for technology to advance to the point that creating a simulated universe would be possible?

2. If it IS theoretically possible, then would the owners of such a technology utilize it?

3. If they did utilize it, would they only run it once or many, many times?

Question 1: So I can't really come up with a reason why it wouldn't be theoretically possible. If you are a materialist, like me, there is no reason to believe that even being capable of consciousness could not arise from sophisticated enough programming. I am aware of the argument that such a computer would have to be bigger than the universe we inhabit in order to replicate perfectly. But who is to say that the universe in which the simulation is being run isn't larger by many orders of magnitude? There is also no reason that that our universe would have to be perfectly replicated down to the quantum particle detail throughout the universe. It would just have to adjust the level of detail when being in the simulated universe looked at it. The very nature of our universe seems to prohibit us from observing too much detail, such as the speed of light and the "fuzziness" of things when you drill down to the quantum level.

Question 2: To me this is obvious. If a society was capable of simulating such a universe, of course they would do it. We would. The reasons for doing so could be numerous. Science, curiosity, entertainment.

Question 3: This also seems obvious. They wouldn't run a simulation just once. They would run it numerous times on numerous computers, testing different scenarios. What may seem to be billions of years passing in our universe may only hours or days in the simulator's universe.

So, IF it is such simulations are theoretically possible then is it more likely that we are living in the "real" universe or one of the countless simulations?

In the big picture it doesn't really matter. Even if our inverse is simulated it is real to us. But it is fun to think about.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great idea for a SciFi novel.
 
Like Pleasantville or the Truman show?
 
BrewerBob said:
Alright, let me get this out of the way. This is pure speculation and hypothesizing. It is not based on fact and is untestable. This conversation is just for fun, as thinking about the nature of reality often is.

Have you ever wondered about the possibility of us living in a simulated universe? Some questions that arise from the simulated universe hypothesis are:

1. Is it theoretically possible for technology to advance to the point that creating a simulated universe would be possible?

2. If it IS theoretically possible, then would the owners of such a technology utilize it?

3. If they did utilize it, would they only run it once or many, many times?

Question 1: So I can't really come up with a reason why it wouldn't be theoretically possible. If you are a materialist, like me, there is no reason to believe that even being capable of consciousness could not arise from sophisticated enough programming. I am aware of the argument that such a computer would have to be bigger than the universe we inhabit in order to replicate perfectly. But who is to say that the universe in which the simulation is being run isn't larger by many orders of magnitude? There is also no reason that that our universe would have to be perfectly replicated down to the quantum particle detail throughout the universe. It would just have to adjust the level of detail when being in the simulated universe looked at it. The very nature of our universe seems to prohibit us from observing too much detail, such as the speed of light and the "fuzziness" of things when you drill down to the quantum level.

Question 2: To me this is obvious. If a society was capable of simulating such a universe, of course they would do it. We would. The reasons for doing so could be numerous. Science, curiosity, entertainment.

Question 3: This also seems obvious. They wouldn't run a simulation just once. They would run it numerous times on numerous computers, testing different scenarios. What may seem to be billions of years passing in our universe may only hours or days in the simulator's universe.

So, IF it is such simulations are theoretically possible then is it more likely that we are living in the "real" universe or one of the countless simulations?

In the big picture it doesn't really matter. Even if our inverse is simulated it is real to us. But it is fun to think about.
Click to expand...


Crap, you mean, this is REAL?
 
Tim the plumber said:
Yep, that's the point. This is the only reality I have so I had best treat it as such.
Click to expand...

No, man. You have to rebel against those who are trying to manipulate you. Rise up and destroy the universe. That'll teach em not to mess with Tim the plumber!!
 
Declan said:
No, man. You have to rebel against those who are trying to manipulate you. Rise up and destroy the universe. That'll teach em not to mess with Tim the plumber!!
Click to expand...

You've not read many of my posts then.
 
let's assume for the sake of argument that we live in a simulated universe. what is really interesting to think about is that if it's possible for a universe to be simulated, technology might eventually allow humans to simulate one, too. and then the intelligent beings in that universe might do the same. kind of like a Russian nesting doll, only with universes.

it really might be turtles all the way down.
 
The majority of theoretical physicists like Michio Kaku agree the mathematical probability of multiple universes is overwhelmingly real. The continual belief is from 4 to 22 universes are likely. Try to visualize this or even just more than one in terms of geographical location, i.e., are they all blended on to one location as many believe or are they separate? My belief they all exist as one but we cannot experience them as we exist in three dimensions only, but right now you could be sitting inside yourself in another or several other universes doing the exact same thing are doing in this one. Everything evolved from a single point of creation.
 
rhinefire said:
The majority of theoretical physicists like Michio Kaku agree the mathematical probability of multiple universes is overwhelmingly real. The continual belief is from 4 to 22 universes are likely. Try to visualize this or even just more than one in terms of geographical location, i.e., are they all blended on to one location as many believe or are they separate? My belief they all exist as one but we cannot experience them as we exist in three dimensions only, but right now you could be sitting inside yourself in another or several other universes doing the exact same thing are doing in this one. Everything evolved from a single point of creation.
Click to expand...


And then there are many physicists who say that it is pseudoscience or metaphysics, since it can not be falsified.
 
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