Simulation hypothesis

The Simulation Hypothesis proposes that reality is in fact a simulation of which those affected by the simulants are generally unaware. The hypothesis itself relies on the development of simulated reality, currently regarded as a fictional technology. This technology has been a central plot device of many science-fiction stories and films, most notably Star Trek, The Truman Show, The Thirteenth Floor and The Matrix. The Simulation Hypothesis has become the subject of serious academic debate within the field of transhumanism, via the work of Nick Bostrom and others.

On the surface, the Simulation Hypothesis is an example of a skeptical hypothesis, a proposal concerning the nature of reality put forward to question beliefs. As such, there is a long history to the underlying thesis that reality is an illusion. This thesis (which can be dated in Western thought back to Zeno of Elea and Plato and in Eastern thought to the Advaita Vedanta concept of Maya) arguably underpins the mind-body dualism of Descartes, and is closely related to phenomenalism, a stance briefly adopted by Bertrand Russell. However, Nick Bostrom and other writers postulate that this is not the case, and there are empirical reasons why the 'Simulation Hypothesis' might be valid. It is related to the Omphalos hypothesis in theology.

According to Bostrom, one part of this trilemma must be true:

1. Almost no civilization will reach a technological level capable of producing simulated realities.
2. Almost no civilization reaching aforementioned technological status will produce a simulated reality, for any of a number of reasons, such as diversion of computational processing power for other tasks, ethical considerations of holding entities captive in simulated realities, etc.
3. Almost all entities with our general set of experiences are living in a simulation.

Dream argument

The dream argument contends that a futuristic technology is not required to create a simulated reality, but rather, all that is needed is a human brain. More specifically, the mind's ability to create simulated realities during REM sleep affects the statistical likelihood of our own reality being simulated.

References

See also

• Dream argument
• Simulated reality
• Simulism
• Zeno's paradoxes