One of the most famous questions still has everyone guessing even to this day, are we living in a simulation? Watching movies like The Matrix is a great example of life in a simulation. This concept might seem like a fantasy. To some this may actually be the reality that we are living in. The idea that the existence of humanity is nothing more than a simulation hasn’t been an easy theory to prove. However, a multitude of scientists, philosophers, researchers, physicists, and technologists have attempted to solve this mystery of existence for years.
Several Western and Eastern philosophical traditions are deeply rooted into this theory. Including Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and other famous philosophers such as Zhuang Zhuo’s Butterfly Dream. Mankind has interpreted reality in a menagerie of ways. We continue to seek out the truth about our existence whether we live in a simulation or not.
Who Says We’re Living In A Simulation?
In 2003, Nick Bostrom of the University of Oxford, curated a seminal paper in which he explains his ideals and theories. Bostrom argues that there are some conditions in order for life in a simulation. As a result, he gives the world his problematic Trilemma for this popular argument.
Bostrom theorizes simulated life cannot be done if society is already on the brink of extinction or is already extinct. There is no possible way for further technological development. Secondly, if humans do evolve, we are unlikely going to be interested in replicating our ancestors past through simulation. Lastly, the probability of people living in a simulation is close to one. This means that mankind has been living in a simulation almost certainly this entire time. These three elements are what Bostrom’s Trilemma consists of and what everyone is trying to prove or disprove.
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