Reality as a computer simulation: It’s very iffy
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David Chalmers (whose book is pictured) is University
Professor of Philosophy and Natural Science and codirector of the Center for
Mind, Brain, and Consciousness at New
York University.
His book is about reality as a computer simulation, and contains a raft of sci-fi novels (and short stories) with simu- lation(s) as the gist.
On page 29 he writes: “What exactly is the simulation hypo- thesis? [Nick] Bostrom’s ver- sion says simply, ‘We are living in a computer simulation.’ Mine says, ‘We are and always have been in an artificially designed computer simulation of a world.’”
Although I’m early in the book, I think Chalmers is fully committed to his simulation hypothesis and believes it to be actually true.
He, like all philosophers, engages in philosophical tropes and memes, and employs philosophical argumentation to make points, something I’ve referred to as “bullsh*t.”
That aside, the idea of reality as a computer simulation, which I’ve touched on here and elsewhere, is loopy, interesting perhaps, but loopy. I understand why most UFOers dispense with the concept.
I plan on a “dissertation” here on simulated realities upcoming, as we actually live in an obvious simulation, one that can be defended I think because it makes scientific sense.
Professor Chalmers seems to have been seduced by the Matrix series of movies, which are gawd-awful as I see them. But I’ll keep reading his book for now and will note any pertinent elements.
RR
His book is about reality as a computer simulation, and contains a raft of sci-fi novels (and short stories) with simu- lation(s) as the gist.
On page 29 he writes: “What exactly is the simulation hypo- thesis? [Nick] Bostrom’s ver- sion says simply, ‘We are living in a computer simulation.’ Mine says, ‘We are and always have been in an artificially designed computer simulation of a world.’”
Although I’m early in the book, I think Chalmers is fully committed to his simulation hypothesis and believes it to be actually true.
He, like all philosophers, engages in philosophical tropes and memes, and employs philosophical argumentation to make points, something I’ve referred to as “bullsh*t.”
That aside, the idea of reality as a computer simulation, which I’ve touched on here and elsewhere, is loopy, interesting perhaps, but loopy. I understand why most UFOers dispense with the concept.
I plan on a “dissertation” here on simulated realities upcoming, as we actually live in an obvious simulation, one that can be defended I think because it makes scientific sense.
Professor Chalmers seems to have been seduced by the Matrix series of movies, which are gawd-awful as I see them. But I’ll keep reading his book for now and will note any pertinent elements.
RR
