Comments on: Are we living in a simulation? http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/ Beauty is in the eye of the shareholder Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:27:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Joe http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36065 Joe Sun, 24 Feb 2008 06:45:04 +0000 http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36065 I have to say that I've given this way too much thought over the past few years. It's become my own personal philosophy. Anytime something makes me angry, sad, or upset in any way, I remind myself that it's just the simulation creator's attempt to elicit a particular response from me. This is a bid odd, I realize, but it has really added to my inner peace--even if it makes me a bit boring to "the creator." :-) I have to say that I’ve given this way too much thought over the past few years. It’s become my own personal philosophy. Anytime something makes me angry, sad, or upset in any way, I remind myself that it’s just the simulation creator’s attempt to elicit a particular response from me. This is a bid odd, I realize, but it has really added to my inner peace–even if it makes me a bit boring to “the creator.” :-)

]]> By: Ted Simpkins http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36062 Ted Simpkins Sun, 24 Feb 2008 04:17:36 +0000 http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36062 Key word? Reality Key word? Reality

]]> By: Cedric http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36061 Cedric Sun, 24 Feb 2008 04:05:25 +0000 http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36061 I don't know that Buddhism and Zen is about living in the present. I thought it was more about reaching enlightnment which is nothing more than the realization that there is no one here to be enlightned. It's about understanding that duality and time are concepts created by the mind and that attachment to thought, attachment to the concept of "me" is what causes the "apparent" suffering which of course isn't really happening because there is no one here to suffer. But hey, what would I know, to me it's all a bit paradoxical. I don’t know that Buddhism and Zen is about living in the present. I thought it was more about reaching enlightnment which is nothing more than the realization that there is no one here to be enlightned. It’s about understanding that duality and time are concepts created by the mind and that attachment to thought, attachment to the concept of “me” is what causes the “apparent” suffering which of course isn’t really happening because there is no one here to suffer.
But hey, what would I know, to me it’s all a bit paradoxical.

]]> By: Tom http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36060 Tom Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:54:37 +0000 http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36060 Cedric: living in the present is the trick that Buddhists try to do. How can you lay a hold of something as it comes into to being as it simultaneously becomes the past? Cedric: living in the present is the trick that Buddhists try to do. How can you lay a hold of something as it comes into to being as it simultaneously becomes the past?

]]> By: JamesDee http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36059 JamesDee Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:38:58 +0000 http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36059 Check out the movie "The Thirteenth Floor" An older movie that depicts a simulation world in, what I thought to be, a great way. One of my new favorite movies. Check out the movie “The Thirteenth Floor”

An older movie that depicts a simulation world in, what I thought to be, a great way.

One of my new favorite movies.

]]> By: Jason Coleman http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36058 Jason Coleman Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:57:39 +0000 http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36058 I remember reading something about "The Philosophy of the Matrix". (I think it's one of these: http://onwardoverland.com/matrix/philosophy.html) The basic thesis was that the Matrix world could exist (namely the fact that we are simulations in some kind of binary-based super computer). And then it argued that if you think THAT world is possible, it must be the most likely case. Some kind of Ockham's Razor argument: the easiest possible solution is usually correct. The paper argued that the living in a simulation in a binary world was the easiest solution. I think the basic unit of "matter" in this world is very likely binary... just like computers and in that case our world is basically equivalent to a simulation. There'd be no difference between "running" on the real world binary units or in a computer simulated binary units. And I also agree with you about simulations being part of reality anyway. I remember reading something about “The Philosophy of the Matrix”. (I think it’s one of these: http://onwardoverland.com/matrix/philosophy.html)

The basic thesis was that the Matrix world could exist (namely the fact that we are simulations in some kind of binary-based super computer). And then it argued that if you think THAT world is possible, it must be the most likely case. Some kind of Ockham’s Razor argument: the easiest possible solution is usually correct. The paper argued that the living in a simulation in a binary world was the easiest solution.

I think the basic unit of “matter” in this world is very likely binary… just like computers and in that case our world is basically equivalent to a simulation. There’d be no difference between “running” on the real world binary units or in a computer simulated binary units.

And I also agree with you about simulations being part of reality anyway.

]]> By: Tom http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36057 Tom Sat, 23 Feb 2008 13:38:01 +0000 http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36057 This reality, in itself, is an illusion. This reality, in itself, is an illusion.

]]> By: snowlover http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36056 snowlover Sat, 23 Feb 2008 09:28:19 +0000 http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36056 I believe Douglas Adams covered this in a far more entertaining fashion 30 years ago. I believe Douglas Adams covered this in a far more entertaining fashion 30 years ago.

]]> By: Cedric http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36054 Cedric Sat, 23 Feb 2008 06:11:34 +0000 http://www.uglychart.com/2008/02/23/are-we-living-in-a-simulation/#comment-36054 If reality is the present than we're in trouble because the present is nothing more than a symbolic line that separates the past and the future... much like the equator symbolises the line between northern and southern hemisphere. So can we actually live in the present? And since time elapses between the moment we perceive and the moment we conceptualise are we not all of us only living in the past? Just a thought :) If reality is the present than we’re in trouble because the present is nothing more than a symbolic line that separates the past and the future… much like the equator symbolises the line between northern and southern hemisphere. So can we actually live in the present? And since time elapses between the moment we perceive and the moment we conceptualise are we not all of us only living in the past?
Just a thought :)

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