There Is No Spoon

[Minute]

So imagine this came back & we somehow figured out that none of it is real, and it's all just a simulation. Would you change your life, and if so how?

http://www.technologyreview.com/view/42 ... imulation/

[Ddrak]

Well, it would confirm the existence of "God". That's gotta shake a few things up.

Personally, probably make me think hard philosophically but not much point changing given it's so far beyond control.

Dd

[Jarochai Alabaster]

Well, it would confirm the existence of "God".

I would say it does the exact opposite.

[Minute]

Well, it would confirm the existence of "God".

I would say it does the exact opposite.

I think he means in the sense that there really was a "Creator". And it might actually make the Xians right. I mean, stereotypical programmer geek = Fat white dude with beard. LOL

I'm not so sure it would change much for me. I mean my actions still directly effect the outcome of MY life within this simulation. When I play a video game I try to do my best at it right? Shit life is just a big video game, let's get to level 8 and free this princess nawmean?

On the subject, anyone remember this movie? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139809/

Was a pretty trippy concept. Simulation made another simulated world INSIDE the simulation. Then found out that they were just a simulation too. Some reverse inception shit bros.

[Ddrak]

Well, it would confirm the existence of "God".

I would say it does the exact opposite.

Disagree. Define the functional difference between the person/group of people running the simulation and "God".

Dd

[Freecare Spiritwise]

Shakespeare said "all the world's a stage."

[Jarochai Alabaster]

Well, it would confirm the existence of "God".

I would say it does the exact opposite.

Disagree. Define the functional difference between the person/group of people running the simulation and "God".

Dd

The person or group of people running the simulation is a person or group of people. "God" is a supernatural deity. Define the functional similarities.

[Jarochai Alabaster]

Bah, too late to add this as an edit.

Basically, my thinking is that if the universe exists as a simulation that we can test for, its creator is attempting to simulate the functions of his/her/its/their own universe, and most likely has more in common with biological life on earth than it does with any currently accepted definition of "God," "a god," or "gods." Indeed, I would surmise that the flawed nature of the "simulation" being detectable as such precludes any notion of a true "universe creator." "God," then, becomes "lead design" rather than "deity," and his creative medium is a computer rather than the universe. He becomes Colonel Sanders from The Matrix.

[Ddrak]

I'm not sure I agree, at least from the perspective of a consciousness inside the simulation. To that being, anyone controlling the simulation would appear omnipotent and possibly even omniscient (they could fake that one at least). That person would, by definition, be the creator.

There's no good reason to believe that the simulation would mirror conditions in the creator's world. In fact, they are likely a vastly simplified set of physical rules and possibly a specially calculated set designed to force the anthropic principle.

Dd

[Jarochai Alabaster]

Creator? Yes.
God/gods/deity? No.

It follows the saying that "any sufficiently advanced technology will appear as magic." Just because it seems like a god from our perspective does not mean it is a god.

Regarding the simulation itself, you're probably right. I would surmise though that it would be more likely to mirror the creator's own universe because that would be the creator's reference point. From there I could see experiments outward into different universe structures, different functional laws, etc. But then again, that's just me using our universe and our way of thinking as the reference point, and assuming these extradimensional aliens would do the same as a result.

[Ddrak]

It follows the saying that "any sufficiently advanced technology will appear as magic." Just because it seems like a god from our perspective does not mean it is a god.

The quote is "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", and I would correlate in this case that the creator/operator of a simulation would be *indistinguishable* from a god from the simulation's point of view.

Dd

[Jarochai Alabaster]

Except for the fact that the creator's simulation was detectable as such. And I've never heard a creation myth where god used a computer to create the universe. Needing a computer is kind of...not omnipotent.

[Garrdor]

This is basically how I feel about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7BuQFUhsRM