Question Details

Is the universe a simulation?

Is the universe a simulation?

Asked by: Super Userkruijs in Science » Discoveries
Settled on 03/29/2024 09:47 Settled by Super UserJosef Biesenberger
Winning option:Not revealed by suspension https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/01/could-our-universe-be-a-simulation-how-would-we-even-tell/

Predictions

Yes
Yes
Not revealed by suspension
Not revealed by suspension

Background

But one fanciful possibility is that we live in a computer simulation based on the laws of mathematics — not in what we commonly take to be the real world. According to this theory, some highly advanced computer programmer of the future has devised this simulation, and we are unknowingly part of it. Thus when we discover a mathematical truth, we are simply discovering aspects of the code that the programmer used.

This may strike you as very unlikely. But the Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom has argued that we are more likely to be in such a simulation than not. If such simulations are possible in theory, he reasons, then eventually humans will create them — presumably many of them. If this is so, in time there will be many more simulated worlds than nonsimulated ones. Statistically speaking, therefore, we are more likely to be living in a simulated world than the real one.

Very clever. But is there any way to empirically test this hypothesis?

Indeed, there may be.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/16/opinion/sunday/is-the-universe-a-simulation.html

Find similar: universe, simulation

Comments

Comment on this question:

Sign in to comment

   John Miller predicted Not revealed by suspension

Sorry but you can't simulate something that is infinite in nature. At the basis of this universe are irrational numbers like pi. Well the irrational in pi comes from the square root of 2, but omni-directional forces like gravity require calculations that would never hold enough information to properly simulate anything except the limit of y/x as x approaches infinity... which is 0. So no, there there is basically 0% accuracy of simulating this world and 0% chance.

   John Miller predicted Not revealed by suspension

Sorry but you can't simulate something that is infinite in nature. At the basis of this universe are irrational numbers like pi. Well the irrational in pi comes from the square root of 2, but omni-directional forces like gravity require calculations that would never hold enough information to properly simulate anything except the limit of y/x as x approaches infinity... which is 0. So no, there there is basically 0% accuracy of simulating this world and 0% chance.

   Super Userkruijs

don't tell anybody, but this site is part of it :-D

   Super Userzvassil predicted Yes

Of course it is a simulation - in a sense.

Integrate this question on your website or blog Get Widget!

Advertisement

What's This!?

  • This is a user submitted question. Players make predictions on what they expect to be the actual outcome.

    more...

  • Register for free and get 1,000 KtN$
    in virtual cash to start predicting!

  • Limited offer: Sign up today and recieve double cash!