Are we living in a computer simulation?

[Locutus]

Whoa: Physicists testing to see if universe is a computer simulation

Will you take the red pill or the blue pill?

Some physicists and university researchers say it's possible to test the theory that our entire universe exists inside a computer simulation, like in the 1999 film "The Matrix."

In 2003, University of Oxford philosophy professor Nick Bostrom published a paper, "The Simulation Argument," which argued that, "we are almost certainly living in a computer simulation." Now, a team at Cornell University says it has come up with a viable method for testing whether we're all just a series of numbers in some ancient civilization's computer game.

Researchers at the University of Washington agree with the testing method, saying it can be done. A similar proposal was put forth by German physicists in November.

So how, precisely, can we test whether we exist? Put simply, researchers are building their own simulated models, using a technique called lattice quantum chromodynamics. And while those models are currently able to produce models only slightly larger than the nucleus of an atom, University of Washington physics professor Martin Savage says the same principles used in creating those simulations can be applied on a larger scale.

"This is the first testable signature of such an idea," Savage said. "If you make the simulations big enough, something like our universe should emerge."

The testing method is far more complex. Consider the Cornell University explanation: "Using the historical development of lattice gauge theory technology as a guide, we assume that our universe is an early numerical simulation with unimproved Wilson fermion discretization and investigate potentially-observable consequences."

To translate, if energy signatures in our simulations match those in the universe at large, there's a good chance we, too, exist within a simulation.

Interestingly, one of Savage's students takes the hypothesis further: If we stumble upon the nature of our existence, would we then look for ways to communicate with the civilization who created us?

University of Washington student Zohreh Davoudi says whoever made our simulated universe might have made others, and maybe we should "simply" attempt to communicate with those. "The question is, 'Can you communicate with those other universes if they are running on the same platform?'" she asked.

Link to Story

[Locutus]

That's absolutely fascinating.  While I really don't much think we're all living in a simulation, the chances that we aren't are certainly not zero.  This is from the abstract of the original paper that put forth this supposition:

This paper argues that at least one of the following propositions is true:  (1) the human species is very likely to go extinct before reaching a "posthuman" stage; (2) any posthuman civilization is extremely unlikely to run a significant number of simulations of their evolutionary history (or variations thereof); (3) we are almost certainly living in a computer simulation. It follows that the belief that there is a significant chance that we will one day become posthumans who run ancestor-simulations is false, unless we are currently living in a simulation.

The full paper can be found here:

http://www.simulation-argument.com/simulation.html

[Locutus]

The philosophical ramifications of such a discussion are endless, let alone if one day it was shown to be true. 

[Palehorse]

Oh man. . . Somebody must've performed the Vulcan mind-meld on me while I was sleeping and stolen my thoughts! 

[Locutus]

Oh man. . . Somebody must've performed the Vulcan mind-meld on me while I was sleeping and stolen my thoughts! 

Might that support the simulation theory?   

[Palehorse]

Might that support the simulation theory?   

Holy binary Batman! 

[libby]

Whoa: Physicists testing to see if universe is a computer simulation

Will you take the red pill or the blue pill?

Some physicists and university researchers say it's possible to test the theory that our entire universe exists inside a computer simulation, like in the 1999 film "The Matrix."

In 2003, University of Oxford philosophy professor Nick Bostrom published a paper, "The Simulation Argument," which argued that, "we are almost certainly living in a computer simulation." Now, a team at Cornell University says it has come up with a viable method for testing whether we're all just a series of numbers in some ancient civilization's computer game.

Researchers at the University of Washington agree with the testing method, saying it can be done. A similar proposal was put forth by German physicists in November.

So how, precisely, can we test whether we exist? Put simply, researchers are building their own simulated models, using a technique called lattice quantum chromodynamics. And while those models are currently able to produce models only slightly larger than the nucleus of an atom, University of Washington physics professor Martin Savage says the same principles used in creating those simulations can be applied on a larger scale.

"This is the first testable signature of such an idea," Savage said. "If you make the simulations big enough, something like our universe should emerge."

The testing method is far more complex. Consider the Cornell University explanation: "Using the historical development of lattice gauge theory technology as a guide, we assume that our universe is an early numerical simulation with unimproved Wilson fermion discretization and investigate potentially-observable consequences."

To translate, if energy signatures in our simulations match those in the universe at large, there's a good chance we, too, exist within a simulation.

Interestingly, one of Savage's students takes the hypothesis further: If we stumble upon the nature of our existence, would we then look for ways to communicate with the civilization who created us?

University of Washington student Zohreh Davoudi says whoever made our simulated universe might have made others, and maybe we should "simply" attempt to communicate with those. "The question is, 'Can you communicate with those other universes if they are running on the same platform?'" she asked.

Link to Story

That's one of those mind-boggling ideas that make sci-fi so fascinating.

[Locutus]

Holy binary Batman! 

In all seriousness though, what would happen if we proved that we are nothing more than a simulation?  Outside of what the theological and philosophical ramifications of such a discovery would be, what if the entity or entities who created the simulation noticed our discovery and hit the "end program" button?  Or would they let it continue as it really would be a natural progression of the simulation that they initiated to begin with? 

Like I said; the philosophical ramifications of such a discussion are endless, let alone if one day it was shown to be true.

[Locutus]

That's one of those mind-boggling ideas that make sci-fi so fascinating.

Well obviously the researchers don't think the possibility of such being the case lies solely in the realm of science fiction.  Otherwise, they wouldn't be studying it.  They really are setting about intelligently discussing the 3 points stated in the abstract.

This paper argues that at least one of the following propositions is true:  (1) the human species is very likely to go extinct before reaching a "posthuman" stage; (2) any posthuman civilization is extremely unlikely to run a significant number of simulations of their evolutionary history (or variations thereof); (3) we are almost certainly living in a computer simulation.

[Palehorse]

In all seriousness though, what would happen if we proved that we are nothing more than a simulation?  Outside of what the theological and philosophical ramifications of such a discovery would be, what if the entity or entities who created the simulation noticed our discovery and hit the "end program" button?  Or would they let it continue as it really would be a natural progression of the simulation that they initiated to begin with? 

Like I said; the philosophical ramifications of such a discussion are endless, let alone if one day it was shown to be true.

Discovering that we are nothing more than a simulation; would that be the REAL moment we become "self-aware"? 

[Palehorse]

I can just see a bunch of people going all PS3 / God of War on the masses if they ever prove the theory. 

[Locutus]

Discovering that we are nothing more than a simulation; would that be the REAL moment we become "self-aware"? 

It would be the ultimate "cogito ergo sum" moment.  But then Descartes was only a simulation as well, so what would he know anyway? 

[Locutus]

I can just see a bunch of people going all PS3 / God of War on the masses if they ever prove the theory. 

Quite possibly.  There would really be no "real world" to begin with so there would be no "real world" ramifications in trying to alter the simulation, other than possibly annoying the entity/entities running the simulation if they're still watching. 

It would be like lucid dreaming.  It's easy to jump off a cliff if you know you're only dreaming, and it will cause no actual physical harm at all.  I know of what I speak because I have lucid dreams quite often.  I've jumped off of those cliffs. 

[Palehorse]

Here's my next persona then:

[The Troll]

  All of this computer simulation malarkey, is just fairy dust, make believe just as the bible is.     SORRY!