Have you ever wondered if this world is actually the real world?
Scientists and philosophers have been trying to answer this question since antiquity. So we should not feel too bad about not being able to come up with a scientific verifiable answer. Regardless of this, some scientists and philosophers argue that it’s likely we live in a computer simulation. I know this sounds crazy but just keep reading - you might be surprised.
Enter Swedish philosopher Nick Bostrom.
Source: http://www.nickbostrom.com/
Bostrom argues that we live in a world where computers are becoming ever more advanced. We have just begun to see 3D technology being implemented and the next big thing might be the super powerful quantum computers. Because of this, Bostrom argues that the computers of the future might be able to conduct very advanced simulations.
This is where the Simulation argument comes into play.
The Simulation argument states that we most likely live in a simulated reality. The simulation might be the work of a future civilization wanting to play out different scenarios and collecting data on various parameters. Bostrom's argument is backed by mathematical probability theory (see link to PDF).
www.simulation-argument.com/simulation.pdf
I won’t be explaining the mathematical probability theory, but I will briefly give you the short version of the Simulation argument. For further study see the video below.
The simulation argument holds that at least one of the following propositions is true:
1 The first possibility is that all future civilizations go extinct before being able to conduct simulations.
2 The second possibility is that the future civilizations could conduct simulations but have no interest in doing so.
3 The third possibility is that we are currently living in simulation.
The argument for us living in a simulated world then becomes that if the first proposition doesn’t happen, then the civilization will not go extinct and moves on to the second proposition. If the civilization then begins to mature and starts conducting ancestor simulations, it will be able to run countless simulations. In such a case, there will be many more simulated people than there will be actual “real” people. Therefore Bostrom argues that there is a greater probability that that we live in a simulated universe than a non-simulated universe.
What are your thoughts about reality and the simulation argument?
Comment below and follow at @cryptodan
Hey cryptodan, thanks for your post, it was very interesting. I want to focus on newcomers but also on people that are very active. My plan is to build up a community with active users to support each other and creating a curation trail. Looking forward to curating more effectively, would you be interested? Upvoted and following, greetings Lena!
Hi @lenatramper. I have been thinking about starting a curation trail the last couple of days, it might be a really good idea. We could discuss it over the steemchat if you are up for it?
great :)) @acidyo introduced me how to do ground a curation trail, I am also very new in this topic, this is his post, it is perfect explained what a curation trail is https://steemit.com/faq/@acidyo/what-are-curation-trails-and-delegated-steem-power , first step you have to logg in on Streemian and then we can follow each other, upvoting our post and support each other :) thank you very much for replaying !! Feel free to ask for more , looking forward to work together, yes sure feel free to text me on steemit chat, I am also quite new into this topic
Sounds great @lenatramper, I will do some reading up this evening and will contact you tomorrow when I'm better aquatinted with the details of it all. Oh and thanks for asking, funny how I was just thinking about it these last days :D
ok :) I am a mind reader :P :P looking forward to hear from you, have a nice evening!!
Haha :) Thank you, and you too ;)
have you thought about that :) ?
Great article buddy, I just spotlighted it on Steemit Blogger Central ...hopefully that gets you some new friends to gather up on this deep topic
View your highlighted post here:
https://www.facebook.com/steemitbc/
Thanks a lot.
Any one who hasn't joined @sflaherty's newly started Facebookpage should do so ASAP.
From the page:
Steemit Blogger Central strives to be a hub for the Steemit community to share their blogs, provide Steemit news, and list current Steemit related tutorials. We aim to help reach a larger audience and bring mainstream users to Steemit daily
Thanks for the shout out my friend, the door is wide open for anyone that wants to get word out about their profiles here and articles...lets do this all as a team and get STEEMIT up there to the top
This theory is sweet. I wish these geniuses would openly do psychedelics and then tell us the next part of the theory. Awesome post and topic. Elon Musk has a chat about this too.
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/elon-musk-simulated-universe-hypothesis
Great article, and yeah that would be pretty cool. Who knows, maybe some of them will in the future :)
Bill Hicks says it best :)
Great video :) Bill Hicks had some great insights and wouldn't tolerate any BS :D
Nice posting ! :)
@cm-steem this would be a good proof of research project for Gridcoin ;)
It's a nice thought
Wouldn't it be great to find a save memory and reset button some day....God I'd be filthy rich
Upvoted
Haha great point @jonny-clearwater :) and thank's for the upvote.
Makes me think of one of my favorite movies on this theme, "The Thirteenth Floor" :)
That was a such a good movie. I feel like watching it again :)
Not to punch a whole in everything, but aren't all these three possibilities wrong if we are the first civilization that are on the brink of starting the first simulation?
If we are on a simulation we are the ones with the "Optional Extras" and that's not bad either, extras are always good :P
We are on the edge of being able to do this in a not to distant future.
Good point, and yes your are right about that it would seem :)
However The Simulation argument simply states that it is most likely (mathematically probable) that we are in a simulation ;)
I know :)
It is still a very interesting concept and it's fun to watch him trying to wrap his words around trying to explain this theses on the concept of it. It starts to get interesting at 12 minutes when he comes to the simulation of brains and neurons.
What is a computer really, if not processes calculating problems? Relating to the supercomputer of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" where they build the most advanced computer of the entire galaxy. (If you don't know what I'm talking about you should read the book)
I have only seen the movie, 42 ;) Perhaps i will pickup the book some time as well :)
Well, then you know what I mean about the ultimate supercomputer ever built :)The books are, well, heavy to say the least if you're not determined to go trough them all. I haven't been able to get past book 4 actually, hehe.
I am an avid book reader, but yeah books are like meals some are lightly digested while others require commitment. And thanks for the tip ;)
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It's interesting to think about life in that way, Dan. Keep up the awesome work!
I have just followed you as well!