Are we living in a computer simulation?... a poll

In his 2004 paper “Are You Living In A Computer Simulation?” the Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom discusses Simulation Theory, the notion that we are all sims living in a simulated reality. A major assumption he makes is that consciousness can arise out of non-biological phenomenon (e.g. a type of computer)

He uses the term “ancestor simulation”, as the worlds they simulate are at a less advanced state than those who made the simulation (although for all we know they could also be simulating more advanced civilisations…)

His paper can be found here: Are You Living in a Simulation?

He lists three possible scenarios, one of which he says must be true

However, I’ve thought of some more possibilities, which I have put in this poll

So... are we living in a simulation?

We are in a base reality with supreme being(s).

Eddi said:

In his 2004 paper “Are You Living In A Computer Simulation?” the Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom discusses Simulation Theory, the notion that we are all sims living in a simulated reality. A major assumption he makes is that consciousness can arise out of non-biological phenomenon (e.g. a type of computer)

He uses the term “ancestor simulation”, as the worlds they simulate are at a less advanced state than those who made the simulation (although for all we know they could also be simulating more advanced civilisations…)

His paper can be found here: Are You Living in a Simulation?

He lists three possible scenarios, one of which he says must be true

However, I’ve thought of some more possibilities, which I have put in this poll

So... are we living in a simulation?

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If it's a simulation, then a simulation of what? Even in a computerized simulation, there'd still be something, whether it's just dots on a screen, photons-and-force fields, or whatever.

It's a simulation! It's a simulation!

Nothing to simulate. I create my own reality.

From the article you linked to: "(1) the human species is very likely to go extinct before reaching a “posthuman” stage;" I imagined a cartoon in which smoke fumes arise from numerous points on a blackened earth's surface, and God says to his Divine Council: "Well, that didn't turn out well, did it?"

Eddi said:

So... are we living in a simulation?

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My Attention Deficit Disorder kicked in before I could find a definition of "a simulation". What do you or the paper's author think a simulation is?

SalixIncendium said:

Nothing to simulate. I create my own reality.

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And it's a marvelous reality you've created indeed. Look, you're a Moderator god in RF.

Terry Sampson said:

My Attention Deficit Disorder kicked before I could find a definition of "a simulation". What do you or the paper's author think a simulation is?

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I think Wikipedia says it best: "a simulation is an approximate imitation of the operation of a process or system" - i.e "ancestor simulations" are approximate imitations of the world as it was in the past, or of how it might have been in the past...

So, basically, a virtual reality populated by virtual people - which is supposed to mirror base reality, but some things are not simulated in any great detail, e.g. the core of the Earth

Eddi said:

In his 2004 paper “Are You Living In A Computer Simulation?” the Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom discusses Simulation Theory, the notion that we are all sims living in a simulated reality. A major assumption he makes is that consciousness can arise out of non-biological phenomenon (e.g. a type of computer)

He uses the term “ancestor simulation”, as the worlds they simulate are at a less advanced state than those who made the simulation (although for all we know they could also be simulating more advanced civilisations…)

His paper can be found here: Are You Living in a Simulation?

He lists three possible scenarios, one of which he says must be true

However, I’ve thought of some more possibilities, which I have put in this poll

So... are we living in a simulation?

Click to expand...

Our reality is build up by Zhen,shan,ren or truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance everything in our universe contains this, it has nothing to do with computers or computer simulations to do

Eddi said:

but some things are not simulated in any great detail, e.g. the core of the Earth

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Hmmm, ... well, I guess that could explain why there have been so many things missing in my life that I would like to have had or seen happen. Can I get a "do over again" with a better simulation?

Eddi said:

So... are we living in a simulation?

Click to expand...

We are in a simulated reality, where it is all real down to the smallest quantum strand; it isn't a none real simulation, although we explain quantum physics as being like a quantum computer, this is a simile for its characteristics.

We are AI inside the Matrix; the idea some of us are evolving to be capable of being able to code a multiple dimensional environment, is what reality is about.

In my opinion.

SalixIncendium said:

Nothing to simulate. I create my own reality.

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'simulation' may be incomplete terminology? it may be just a background.

Of course, if 'reality' is a simulation, it's very possible that we would be unable to know for certain whether or not we are within a simulation. How exactly could we know? Every explanation that I've encountered of how we could know this as an irrefutable fact seems to assert that we would see the evidence through our collective sensory perceptions...but ignores that in a simulation, all of our sensory perceptions are part of the simulation itself...

wizanda said:

We are in a simulated reality, where it is all real down to the smallest quantum strand; it isn't a none real simulation, although we explain quantum physics as being like a quantum computer, this is a simile for its characteristics.

We are AI inside the Matrix; the idea some of us are evolving to be capable of being able to code a multiple dimensional environment, is what reality is about.

In my opinion.

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Who is "we?"

SalixIncendium said:

Who is "we?"

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We is us, everyone, the whole of reality, everything; all quantum strands in existence, and anyone else listening.

In my opinion.

wizanda said:

We is us, everyone, the whole of reality, everything; all quantum strands in existence, and anyone else listening.

In my opinion.

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I am not AI, so I'll thank you not to speak for me.

Terry Sampson said:

Hmmm, ... well, I guess that could explain why there have been so many things missing in my life that I would like to have had or seen happen. Can I get a "do over again" with a better simulation?

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Insert coin to play again.

Other = No

SalixIncendium said:

I am not AI, so I'll thank you not to speak for me.

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Can we prove we know anything other than what we have experienced in this mathematically simulated reality?

I personally do not know if I exist; so it is amazing you do... Considering I've had a NDE, fulfilled prophecy globally before reading it, etc, and I'm still not sure.

Thus what experiences have you had, that confirm for you, that you are the ultimate Source of our reality, that comes from beyond quantum physics?

Plus do you have full power to change reality, since you're so sure?

Sorry for any offence.

In my opinion.

wizanda said:

Can we prove we know anything other than what we have experienced in this mathematically simulated reality?

I personally do not know if I exist; so it is amazing you do... Considering I've had a NDE, fulfilled prophecy globally before reading it, etc, and I'm still not sure.

Thus what experiences have you had, that confirm for you, that you are the ultimate Source of our reality, that comes from beyond quantum physics?

Plus do you have full power to change reality, since you're so sure?

Sorry for any offence.

In my opinion.

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I don't share your need to prove my experiences to others. My experiences are my own and for the purpose of my own realizations and revelations. They're not for everyone, therefore I have no need to use terms like 'we' to force them upon others.

That said, I'd be happy to share my experiences with anyone who is genuinely curious, but I will not be sharing them in a debate venue.

GINOLJC, to all.
Addressing the OP only.
simple answer NO. not a computer simulation, but we're living in a LIVING "CREATED" conscious based world that is upheld by the CREATOR, or SOURCE himself. instead of simulation I would perfer to use the term stimulation, because all of our perception in this created world are stimulated by God, my scripture to support this fact is, Acts 17:28 "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." if this is the simulation you speak of, then I agree. for the world we live in is a created one, meaning it is being stimulated, which I can understand your point of computer simulation. but a computer simulation is programmed, set, with a predictable outcome, or it is governed by pre-determined information. we can see from history, which is not the case, (based on God will or ours).

our "CREATED" world around us are based on perceptions, and these perceptions are based on stimulation. meaning he, (GOD), is encouraging and developing us for something greater, or more desirable than what we're now.

it is evidence, since the creation, we're being develop for something way futher than we can imagine, hence our development, which is why I use the term "stimulation". now I agree that the stimulation could be programed to a poing, (meaning the stimulation itself), because there are basic laws in this creation, but the intervention of thes basic laws, either on God will, or our will effect the outcome of any programming, or inteted results. so the programming cannot be static.

may I make a suggestion. could we be living in multi-layer programed simulation around us, with many different layer of stimulated programs to be developed within us? just something to think about.

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PICJAG.