[the.crooked]

I find the simulation argument as a modified vat in a brain. Not in that it's impossible, but that it's sort of meaningless. Just like discussing whether there is a "god" or not, it's a question that is sort of impossible to ask.

sure, if we live in a simulation, so what? What does it change? What access to "reality" does it change?

invariably, the answer to those questions, is nothing.

[vanfullofretards]

If scientists (physicists and the like) prove this is a simulation, do you still think that wouldn't change anything? Would you still say "so what?"? Wouldn't the implications of such a truth drastically change human civilization? It's easy to say "No, no one would believe it or care" (or whatever) ... but I don't think that is necessarily true.


The coolest/creepiest thing I've read about this argument came from that VICE interview with Rich Terrile. It gives the reader a sense of the potentiality of this...

As scientists, we put physical processes into mathematical frameworks, or into an equation. The universe behaves in a very peculiar way because it follows mathematics. Einstein said, “The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it’s comprehensible.” The universe does not have to work that way. It does not have to be so easy to abbreviate that I can basically write down a few pages of equations that contain enough information to simulate it.

[dignan]

In the beginning of the last paragraph of that two page PDF you linked to, Bostrom writes:

"If we are in a simulation, could ever know for certain? If the simulators don’t want us to find out, we probably never will. But if they choose to reveal themselves, they could certainly do so."

So, I understand this as the author saying we (scientists, physicists and the like) can't prove this is a simulation from our end. Without that top-down revelation, I think the most we could get is an accidently true belief...which is short of knowledge (which may also depend on if we could agree on what knowledge would entail).


It's a fun thing to think about, and it makes me wish I knew more about Philosophy of Mind.