SIMULATIONS
I've been aware of the theory that if we ever get to the point where we could create a simulation of life, then it means we're probably in a simulation. Makes sense to me because the creators would probably advance enough to make millions of them.
So in all of the news about Elon Musk's colorful interview with Joe Rogan, it wasn't too surprising to me that Elon had similar thoughts.
This article went into more detail in simulations than what I had read about before. But this caught my eye:
And it would be hard for the inhabitants of these digital realms to figure out the truth, because all the evidence they could gather would likely be planted by the creators.
But wait. I buy the argument. But would even knowing about the existence of simulations also be something that would theoretically be planted by the creators? If I'm trying to simulate and not get caught, I wouldn't want to even give the civilization the notion of simulations being possible.
That said, it would make sense to provide slight clues if you're creating a simulation to test what it would take for the civilization to realize that they're simulated.
Anyway, g'nite.
I like that question.
Maybe it's like, the laws and variables that would have to be in place to make us never think about it would interfere too much with the simulation and whatever the point of it is? Seems like we'd need to have different reasoning capacity, or on a case by case basis they make sure we never stumble into anything that got us thinking about that.
Which maybe would be a lot of "effort" in terms of like, now they're colliding with other variables. So maybe it's hard for even the godly simulators to perfectly stop us from that.
Even buying the theory, we still basically live the experience of it being real. Like if you hear a scary knock on your door, you still react as a human.
So my feeling is what's important is that we can't prove or know any smoking gun sort of thing, or know what's behind the curtain or anything, but suspecting it or knowing that it's possible isn't a critical fail.
Hmm, ya. Or even if they don't actively give us clues, they learn to juggle whatever clues we get. Maybe that's the game. Simulators want it to last, human players are trying to figure it out.
Was surprised to see Elon on Rogan. Will probably start listening when I fall asleep.
OMG, this explanation is uncannily erudite. Are you sure you're not part of the creators? hmm.
hahahah .. I promise that I'm a human player, but that's probably what I'd say if I was a creator, so you shouldn't blindly believe me, baha
Exactly. I mean of course they could allow us the luxury of wondering about it. I mean I would, if I were part of the people running the stimulation.
It's fun, isn't it? Let us give em a clue or two here; or just make them wonder, fortuitously and fruitlessly.
Cos Like @full-measure said, I doubt we could ever come to an absolute hundered-percent-certain conclusion that we are in a simulation. So why not leave us the capability- through a hint or two here and there- to wonder, aimlessly, if we are.
It's genius, IMO.