From: Brent Thomas (bthomas@avatar-intl.com)
Date: Mon Aug 04 2003 - 15:42:11 MDT
It seems clear to me that as a civilization advances and increases its
available computing power a larger and larger portion of that available
power is used in simulation. Simulation of physics, of environments, of
creatures and yes of detailed and functional creatures in environments.
Creatures such as ourselves?
As computer power increases over time so too must the frequency and
capability of those simulations. Given a simple statistical evaluation
of the process it is nearly inescapable that we must in fact be resident
in such a simulation (even if it is not detectable as such to us). In
fact these simulated creatures must so substantially outweigh any "real"
creatures that most often any thinking and introspective being is most
likely in such a simulation.
Such a simulation would explain many aspects of the questions discussed
on this list. Why are there no visiting aliens? why they're not present
in our simulation....etc etc etc
The real question becomes then if one is resident in a simulation how to
"discover" this fact? how to communicate with the "runner" of the
simulation (which may in fact be many levels deep as a sufficiently
detailed simulation would in fact run their own simulations) and what
benefit may be derived from doing so? (it may in fact be futile and best
ignored. Shall we then behave and believe that we are in fact real?)
Ultimately this may be a futile question with no answer but it may in
fact be the only question worth answering. Python had it wrong...the
earth isn't a massive computer designed to answer some obscure
question...the whole universe is...
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