This is day #11 of 30 days of blogs on philosophy. Over the next two days, I will continue to attempt to provide answers to some big life questions as a learning exercise.
The argument goes like this, given the pace of technological progress, at some point in the future we will be able to create computer games capable of simulating reality. Like the game, the sims, except all the little computer characters are self-aware and artificially intelligent.
If, at some point in the future it was possible to create this simulation, then what is to say that it hasn’t already happened.
That our whole “universe” is just code in a video game.
That everything is just a computer program.
Late at night, if you’re in the right headspace, and start to read the Wikipedia page it can be quite a mindfuck.
It can create some weird questions in your mind like if it is possible that this is a simulation what is the point of me going to work, and worrying so much what other people think of me. If this is a game shouldn’t I be taking more risks?
My question is, does it matter?
Does it matter if our universe is inside of the locker in Men in Black, or is just inside of an atom in a cell of a jellyfish, or is part of a simulation.
You know enough to live a great life.
“I know not if this earth on which I stand is the core of the universe or if it is but a speck of dust lost in eternity. I know not and I care not. For I know what happiness is possible to me on earth.” – Ayn Rand
You don’t need to have an answer to the question of what is your place in the universe. You may never know, but you know enough. You know how to live well, how to feel happy, excited, alive, just like you know how to be depressed, sad, and angry.
Whether you exist in a simulation or just in this universe, you exist, and that is enough to direct your life.
I’m going through these questions to clarify my thinking on them, and hopefully, provide value to others who are reading. If you agree or disagree with me, I would love to hear from you in the comments! Let me know how you would answer this question, or what you think my answer is missing!
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