Do We Live in a Simulation?
So I just read about the initiation of the #discussion tag through the thankful efforts of @timcliff https://steemit.com/discussion/@timcliff/hey-steemains-let-s-start-a-discussion, and i thought I have the perfect topic to kick off the discussion.
Do we live in a simulation?
The simulation theory has been taking the world by storm for quite some time now, and all for seemingly good grounds to that!
Westworld series has had quite the "OH MY", "AHHA", or similar effect on a lot of people (myself included). And even though the concept is not new, as the westworld series is actually based on a 1973 movie with the same name, yet the viral nature of the series, and the hot debates emanating from it has led it to become quite a thing.
Many supporters of the theory use the "Double Slit" experiment as main grounds for the theory, whereby observing particles causes them to behave differently than when being unobserved.
Check out this video for an explanation of the Double Slit experiment
Others also rely on the "speed of light being constant" as to be a limit of the simulation, where everything starts to act slowly due to "hardware limitations" or "processing capability limitations" (malleability of time)
Neil DeGrasse Tyson joined a panel discussion back in 2016 about the topic, and was on the supporter side of the theory.
What do you guys think? Do we live in a simulation? Why, or why not?
Let's get the discussion going!
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation_hypothesis
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westworld_(TV_series)
- https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/227126-neil-degrasse-tyson-says-its-very-likely-the-universe-is-a-simulation
- https://gizmodo.com/5-reasons-our-universe-might-actually-be-a-virtual-real-1665353513
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
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When the film, The Matrix, was released, the directors got a whole bunch of academics to write some papers on philosophy and science. I tried to find them, but sadly, they seem to no longer be online.
They were a fascinating and deep investigation into the film (and the psychological condition) of simulation as being the mode of existence that humanity inhabits.
I read them so many times throughout my time at university . I'm sure they exist somewhere. I haven't yet seen Westworld, but its on my list.
Yes agreed, the matrix indulged heavily into the topic, yet very far from how deep Westworld brought it to the clear, or the way westworld approached it altogether.
Man, drop everything (or at least any other series) in your hands, and watch it. Just takes your mind somewhere completely different.
I'm sure you'll love it.
I always thought The Truman Show was another good "living in a simulation" type movie.
Oh yes, you reminded me of one heck of a movie! It does reflect a sort of a simulation, yet a "simple" TV show simulation. Still it was a big eye opener.
Westworld, the series, just takes it to a whole new level, scientific, and somewhat scary TBH LOL
Have you seen the series @timcliff ? if not, highly recommended!
No, it looked interesting. I don't think my spouse would be very into it though :(
@mcfarhat thanks. Really great topic to think about.
What can I say here. I started to repeatedly get such thoughts (about the possibility for us to live in a simulation) when studied programming languages in high school. It was before I saw "The Matrix". Before I heard this concept from someone else...
I came to these thoughts myself based just on my independent observations and parallels I saw between the logic seen in computer programs and in real life... Just imagine if people (like myself) all around the world have been independently getting those kind of thoughts... there should definitely be something behind this theory :)
Well thought @w-w-w ! It is always key to keep an active mind and think about our existence. i guess programming does have that effect on peope, being a programming background guy myself too.
Thanks for sharing your opinion!
The chance we live in a simulation is very probable. I believe it was Elon Musk that made the analysis that soon our technology will be able to recreate (virtually) the world we live in, and that for that reason this must be a simulation. It's a good point, just as the double slit experiment proves how our observation influences the behaviour of our surroundings, without any actual contact. I do have my own believes which go a bit deeper, and if your interested I made an article a few months ago concerning this topic (link here).
Thank you for stopping by and chiming into the discussion, @droucil
Yes I just checked out your article, great read! How cool .. we even used the same video for the double slit experiment? LOL
I do definitely agree on considering philosophy, consciousness, and spirit in this equation, and I believe that God (or whatever anyone wants to call this ultimate force, being,...) is the origin of all existence and has ultimate control over all its aspects.
Thanks again!
Nice post thanks for your help today.
Oh pleasure @bigbear . Thank you for stopping by!
Technically our entire sensual experience of the world is a simulation that our brain creates for us taken from data fed to it by our sensory organs. It is not much of a step further to wonder how accurate our perception of the world around us actually is and what huge existential contingencies we might be missing.
Thank you @corpsvalues ! I definitely agree, just like dreams, whereby everything is just, well, in your head!
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
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