consciousness is an illusion as is so called "reality". we are a part of a grand simulation and don't even know it.
The formal version of the argument requires some probability theory, but the underlying idea can be grasped without mathematics. It starts with the assumption that future civilizations will have enough computing power and programming skills to be able to create what I call ancestor simulations. These would be detailed simulations of the simulators predecessorsdetailed enough for the simulated minds to be conscious and have the same kinds of experiences we have. Think of an ancestor simulation as a very realistic virtual reality environment, but one where the brains inhabiting the world are themselves part of the simulation.
The simulation argument makes no assumption about how long it will take to develop this capacity. Some futurologists think it will happen within the next 50 years. But even if it takes 10 million years, it makes no difference to the argument.
Let me state what the conclusion of the argument is. The conclusion is that at least one of the following three propositions must be true:
1. Almost all civilizations at our level of development become extinct before becoming technologically mature.
2. The fraction of technologically mature civilizations that are interested in creating ancestor simulations is almost zero.
3. You are almost certainly living in a computer simulation.
How do we reach this conclusion? Suppose first that the first proposition is false. Then a significant fraction of civilizations at our level of development eventually become technologically mature. Suppose, too, that the second proposition is false. Then a significant fraction of these civilizations run ancestor simulations. Therefore, if both one and two are false, there will be simulated minds like ours.
If we work out the numbers, we find that there would be vastly many more simulated minds than nonsimulated minds. We assume that technologically mature civilizations would have access to enormous amounts of computing power.
So enormous, in fact, that by devoting even a tiny fraction to ancestor simulations, they would be able to implement billions of simulations, each containing as many people as have ever existed. In other words, almost all minds like yours would be simulated. Therefore, by a very weak principle of indifference, you would have to assume that you are probably one of these simulated minds rather than one of the ones that are not simulated. (New Scientist, 2006)
even so a form of reincarnation may exist. i recall too distinct lives at least. i don't recall anything specific about the previous simulations, only impressions. one was a joker with a hard childhood and the other with the generous soul of an artist.
the views expressed here are interesting, i may consider investing here in the future.
If we're a simulation, what's not to say the level above us is not a simulation as well? And so on. You run into a regression problem of the infinite nature!
