Science

Judi Lynn

(160,630 posts) Sun Jul 7, 2019, 04:34 AM Jul 2019

Are we living in a simulated universe? Here's what scientists say.

“If we are living in a simulation, then the cosmos that we are observing is just a tiny piece of the totality of physical existence."

July 6, 2019, 3:34 AM CDT
By Dan Falk

What if everything around us — the people, the stars overhead, the ground beneath our feet, even our bodies and minds — were an elaborate illusion? What if our world were simply a hyper-realistic simulation, with all of us merely characters in some kind of sophisticated video game?

This, of course, is a familiar concept from science fiction books and films, including the 1999 blockbuster movie "The Matrix." But some physicists and philosophers say it’s possible that we really do live in a simulation — even if that means casting aside what we know (or think we know) about the universe and our place in it.

“If we are living in a simulation, then the cosmos that we are observing is just a tiny piece of the totality of physical existence,” Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom said in a 2003 paper that jump-started the conversation about what has come to be known as the simulation hypothesis. “While the world we see is in some sense ‘real,’ it is not located at the fundamental level of reality.”

Simulating worlds and beings
Rizwan Virk, founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s PlayLabs program and author of "The Simulation Hypothesis," is among those who take the simulation hypothesis seriously. He recalls playing a virtual reality game so realistic that he forgot that he was in an empty room with a headset on. That led him to wonder: Are we sure we aren’t embedded within a world created by beings more technologically savvy than ourselves?

More:
https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/are-we-living-simulated-universe-here-s-what-scientists-say-ncna1026916

6 replies

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Are we living in a simulated universe? Here's what scientists say. (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jul 2019 OP

"If we are living in a simulation . . . ." Aussie105 Jul 2019 #1

I've wondered about this Ron Obvious Jul 2019 #2

and that argument shows the limits of statistics qazplm135 Jul 2019 #5

This is a testable theory Cicada Jul 2019 #3

Nah, the gods just write a subroutine that gives the "right" answer to any human test. hunter Jul 2019 #4

Nick Bostrom wrote a book about super-intelligent AI systems. Jim__ Jul 2019 #6

Aussie105

(5,436 posts)

1. "If we are living in a simulation . . . ."

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Jul 7, 2019, 04:43 AM

Jul 2019

There is that all important word . . . 'IF'.

Lack of proof means the 'IF' means 'As far as we know, this is pure fiction.'

But it's not the first time Man has pondered if Reality is a figment of his imagination, or in this instance, are we a bunch of Guinea Pigs in the Sociology lab of some higher intelligence?

I have other things to be concerned about, so color me disinterested.

Ron Obvious

(6,261 posts)

2. I've wondered about this

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Jul 7, 2019, 05:06 AM

Jul 2019

I think we can all see, considering the current state of computer technology and where it's headed, that a simulated universe is theoretically possible to construct. Assuming such a simulated universe could be constructed, then there would be no limit to how many such universes might exist. Computer power may soon reach such heights that it might even be relatively simple to construct.

Since there can only be one reality, or real universe, versus a theoretically unlimited number of simulated universes, the odds that we're in the outer layer of reality would be so small as to be non-existent.

It's an interesting thought experiment, but not much more than that. How would we ever be able to tell that we're in a simulation?

qazplm135

(7,447 posts)

5. and that argument shows the limits of statistics

Reply to Ron Obvious (Reply #2)

Tue Jul 9, 2019, 01:10 PM

Jul 2019

First, we don't know that there is just one reality or one real universe.

There could be several different flavors of multiverse for example.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. This is one of those claims.

Cicada

(4,533 posts)

3. This is a testable theory

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sun Jul 7, 2019, 05:58 AM

Jul 2019

Apparently a simulation world would have traits different from a real world which we can detect through measurement.

hunter

(38,328 posts)

4. Nah, the gods just write a subroutine that gives the "right" answer to any human test.

Reply to Cicada (Reply #3)

Sun Jul 7, 2019, 12:13 PM

Jul 2019

"The Matrix" was bad science fiction, just as these simulated universe theories are bad science.

"Were all living in a computer" is just another Creation Myth.

Jim__

(14,083 posts)

6. Nick Bostrom wrote a book about super-intelligent AI systems.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Tue Jul 9, 2019, 01:38 PM

Jul 2019

To me, the idea of super-intelligent AIs and simulated versions of biologically evolved intelligent beings are in conflict.

If we assume that there are multiple instances of evolved intelligent life in the universe, life that will evolve to a state of intelligence where it can run simulations of its own evolutionary process, wouldn't we also expect that these intelligent biological beings would reach the point where they would create systems of artificial intelligence? Artificial intelligence that would, according to Bostrom, significantly surpass the intelligence of the biologically evolved beings.

I'm not sure why super-intelligent AI systems, or the civilizations that control them, would run simulations of biologically evolved beings. I would expect that these super-intelligent systems would be able to analyze the potentialities of biological evolution and that these analyses would be significantly more efficient than any simulations.

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