Simulism is the hypothesis that all of this reality and all of us are in fact parts of a gigantic computer simulation. I believe it could be developed into a kind of secular philosophy, although I also believe it is possible to believe in God and in Simulism. As I do.
One objection to Simulism regards the consequences of people believing in it: it is said that if people were to realise they were in a simulation then everyone would go mad and human life would lose all value, and there’d be no place for morality, and nothing would matter (I call this "the everyone will go mad hypothesis") I’ve found that this often comes up when discussing Simulism, almost as much as The Matrix.
Simulism – as I understand it – has at least three features in common with Hinduism (please, correct me if I'm wrong):
1) A belief in reincarnation
2) A belief that reality is illusory – the “maya” in Hinduism and “the simulation” in Simulism
3) A system of Karma in operation
I find this astonishing. I was unaware of these similarities until recently.
Then there is this fact: 1 billion Hindus believe reality is somehow illusory (a similar belief to believing in a simulation) and they haven’t been driven mad, indeed most live happy, peaceful, ethical and productive lives – therefore I believe the objection that Simulism would be bad for social and moral order is not valid as Hinduism is not bad for these things.
I believe that in Simulism as a philosophy (and maybe also Hinduism too - I wouldn't know) it would be largely the belief in reincarnation and in karma that would prevent everyone going mad due to believing reality is illusory (by making certain acts have certain consequences) although I don't believe that the belief in an illusory reality does necessarily leads to everyone going mad. But then there will always be mad people, that's life.
Are there any Hindus here?
One objection to Simulism regards the consequences of people believing in it: it is said that if people were to realise they were in a simulation then everyone would go mad and human life would lose all value, and there’d be no place for morality, and nothing would matter (I call this "the everyone will go mad hypothesis") I’ve found that this often comes up when discussing Simulism, almost as much as The Matrix.
Simulism – as I understand it – has at least three features in common with Hinduism (please, correct me if I'm wrong):
1) A belief in reincarnation
2) A belief that reality is illusory – the “maya” in Hinduism and “the simulation” in Simulism
3) A system of Karma in operation
I find this astonishing. I was unaware of these similarities until recently.
Then there is this fact: 1 billion Hindus believe reality is somehow illusory (a similar belief to believing in a simulation) and they haven’t been driven mad, indeed most live happy, peaceful, ethical and productive lives – therefore I believe the objection that Simulism would be bad for social and moral order is not valid as Hinduism is not bad for these things.
I believe that in Simulism as a philosophy (and maybe also Hinduism too - I wouldn't know) it would be largely the belief in reincarnation and in karma that would prevent everyone going mad due to believing reality is illusory (by making certain acts have certain consequences) although I don't believe that the belief in an illusory reality does necessarily leads to everyone going mad. But then there will always be mad people, that's life.
Are there any Hindus here?