The simulation hypothesis proposes that all of reality, including the earth and the universe, is in fact an artificial simulation, most likely a computer simulation. Some versions rely on the development of a simulated reality, a proposed technology that would seem realistic enough to convince its inhabitants. The hypothesis has been a central plot device of many science fiction stories and films. - Wiki
There is a long philosophical and scientific history to the underlying thesis that reality is an illusion. This skeptical hypothesis can be traced back to antiquity; for example, to the "Butterfly Dream" of Zhuangzi, or the Indian philosophy of Maya.
This' surely one of man's most intriguing topics that has been laid out on the table, and the perplexing question "Are we living in a world of computer simulation" have caused great anxiety to both the questioner and answerer alike. There are many reactions from discussions and arguments, and as expected of any controversial topic, it has brought the thinkers, philosophers and scientists into splitsville of for-and-against idealists-materialists. This bifurcation takes us way back to the periods of Plato and Democritus.
Personally I'm rolled up into excitement, nervousness and sadness on this topic. What prompted me to delve deeper into this was when I read about Elon Musk saying that there is only a “one in billions” chance that we're not living in a computer simulation. His elaborations prior leading to that conclusion is pointing to the three propositions of Nick Bostrom's trilemma.
- "The fraction of human-level civilizations that reach a posthuman stage (that is, one capable of running high-fidelity ancestor simulations) is very close to zero", or
- "The fraction of posthuman civilizations that are interested in running ancestor-simulations is very close to zero", or
- "The fraction of all people with our kind of experiences that are living in a simulation is very close to one"
Scientifically, quantum physicists' discoveries are paving the way for the simulation hypothesis to becoming real each day and making it harder for the philosophical materialists to hang on to their stance.
Read: Proof Of The Simulation Argument
I am neither a scientist nor a philosopher. My interest in all this is purely as a human. Where do I go from here, and what do I do next after and when its finally determined, either way about this world of mine.
If it is a real physical world of matter. Life just goes on for me as usual. If it is a VR, my question is:
What am I then?
Surely I cannot be the human I thought I am - of matter, flesh, and blood? I must be of a simulation too. How else could I fit in on the VR stage?
Me an AI? This is the nervy thought that keeps me awake at night. I have come to get used to, enjoy and love being human living with other humans.
This makes me sad.
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