Out of all the theories that try to explain the nature of our existence, the simulation hypothesis has to be one of the most bizarre ones. For the uninitiated, this might sound like complete science-fiction nonsense but considering how much reality has surprised us already, it might not be impossible, at least.
Also, one can rest easy in the fact that some prominent figures like Elon Musk and George Hotz also believe in the hypothesis, although that is in no way a proof that our universe is really a simulation, obviously.
The thing about this hypothesis is that, as of now, we simply do not have the means to either prove or disprove it. Maybe one day in the future we will be able to test it and prove it.
But would that be wise? If our universe is really a simulation, and some intelligent being has created it for a particular experiment, would proving that our universe is a simulation cause that being to erase this little experiment of theirs?
Gone In A Second
Preston Greene, philosophy professor from Nanyang Technological University has raised an important point when it comes to the pursuit of proving whether or not our reality is a simulation. He says that if we manage to prove it, the being that created this simulation could decide to end it.
He gives an example of a double-blind clinical trial to illustrate his point. In a double-blind trial, there are two sets of patients. One set is given an actual experimental drug whereas the other one gets a placebo such that neither the patients nor the researchers know which set gets what.
Suppose one of the set of people knew what they were getting, it would render the experiment invalid because then external factors could affect their experiment. Similarly, if we somehow prove that our universe is a simulation, it could render any experiment that a being is running invalid as well.
In such a case they might decide to completely terminate the simulation, or restart it, just as we restart our laptops. In both the cases, it would be the end of human civilisation, and the universe as we know it.
This is an interesting thought experiment, but I don't think it will stop any future would be researcher from trying to determine once and for all whether or not our reality is indeed just a simulation created by some intelligent being.