Last week, Adam Gopnik of The New Yorker published a satirical essay, in which he wondered whether the strange reality we live in could be some kind of computer game played by an advanced intelligence (us in the future or alien).
His point was that if it is, the "programmers" are messing up, given the absurdity of current events: the incredible faux-pas at the Oscars, where the wrong best picture was announced; Donald Trump, the most outsider president ever elected in U.S. history; the strange comeback by the New England Patriots at the Super Bowl. These events, claims Gopnik, are not just weird; they point to a glitch in the "Matrix," the program that runs us all.
For most people trying to make a living, pay bills or fighting an illness, to spend time considering that our reality is not the "real thing" but actually a highly-sophisticated simulation sounds ridiculous. Someone close to me said, "I wish smart people would focus on real world problems and not on this nonsense." I confess that despite being a scientist that uses simulations in my research, I tend to sympathize with this. To blame the current mess on powers beyond us sounds like a major cop out. It's like the older brother framing the younger one for the broken window. "He threw the ball!" Not our fault, not our responsibility, "they" are doing this to us.
Of course, philosophers consider such questions because they are interesting and raise points about the nature of reality and our perception of it. The Are We Living in a Simulation? question comes from a 2003 paper by Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom, who reasoned, compellingly, that given our own proficiency with computers and virtual reality, one of the following propositions must be true:
In other words, either we disappear, or our successors do or don't run simulations, including the one we are part of today. Bostrom's point is that if our species moves on to a new, posthuman phase, our "new us" will have unimaginable computation powers, and running realistic simulations will be a given. If this is the case, we would be like characters in a super-advanced Sims game, believing we have autonomy when, in fact, we are puppets in the hands of the game-players.
This sounds like a very Calvinist kind of situation, with God substituted by super-advanced game players. Or maybe we can call them Super Advanced Gaming Entities (S.A.G.E.)? Our fates are in the hands of "posthuman" entities with powers beyond our control. The key difference between God and a simulation (at least in this narrow context) is that God is presumably infallible, while simulations have glitches, or can have glitches.
The one glitch in the simulation argument is that there is nothing to stop the simulation at one super-advanced posthuman (alien) species. It could very well be that our simulators are, for their part, simulated by even more advanced simulators, and those by even more advanced ones, ad infinitum. Who is the first simulator? This reminds me of the "turtles all the way down" concept of Anavastha in Indian philosophy, where the world rests on an elephant that rests on a turtle that rests on a turtle that... In the West, it may be interpreted as infinite regression or the problem of the First Cause. (For a history of the "turtles all the way down" concept and its many occurrences and variations see here.)
This offers at least some sort of comfort, given that we all seem to be enslaved in an endless nested web of simulators. Only the first simulator is truly free. Familiar?
For Bostrom's argument to work, the key assumption is that advanced intelligences will have an interest in simulating their ancestors (in this case, us). Why would they, exactly? Would they expect to gain some new information about their reality by looking at their evolutionary past?
It seems to me that being so advanced they would have collected enough knowledge about their past to have little interest in this kind of simulation. Forward-looking may be much more interesting to them. They may have virtual-reality museums, where they could go and experience the lives and tribulations of their ancestors. But a full-fledged, resource-consuming simulation of an entire universe? Sounds like a colossal waste of time.
The simulation argument messes with our self-esteem, since it assumes that we have no free will, that we are just deluded puppets thinking we are free to make choices. To believe this is to give up our sense of autonomy: after all, if it's all a big game that we can't control, why bother? This is the danger with this kind of philosophical argument, to actually make us into what it's claiming we are, so that we end up abdicating our right to fight for what we believe in.
Let us make sure that we don't confuse philosophical arguments with our very real socio-political reality, especially not now. We need all the autonomy that we can muster to protect our freedom of choice.
Marcelo Gleiser is a theoretical physicist and writer and a professor of natural philosophy, physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College. He is currently teaching a Massive Online Open Course titled Question Reality! that goes much deeper into these questions. His latest book is The Simple Beauty of the Unexpected: A Natural Philosopher's Quest for Trout and the Meaning of Everything. You can keep up with Marcelo on Facebook and Twitter: @mgleiser
More:
Why Reality Is Not A Video Game And Why It Matters - New Hampshire Public Radio
- Rise of the Posthuman Technocracy : Waking Times [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2016]
- Sympathetic Sci-Fi - The New Yorker [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2016]
- Noted philosopher to deliver Tanner Lectures on 'Posthuman, All too Human' - Yale News [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Are You Living in a Simulation? [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- The Ethics of Innovation: Creativity, Machines, and Artificial Intelligence - Kootenay News Advertiser [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Will we control innovation or will it control us? - The Daily Courier (subscription) [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Prairie Pop: NPR's Codrescu breaks down Dadaism's ongoing influence - Little Village [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Btonsalon Center for Art and Research - E-Flux [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2017]
- I Love Acid's 10th anniversary compilation comes on a 303-shaped USB stick - FACT [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- '10 Years of I Love Acid' compilation comes on a 303-shaped USB ... - Mixmag [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Things Are Super Weird Right Now, but It's Not a Glitch in the Matrix, Says Harvard Physicist - ScienceAlert [Last Updated On: March 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 3rd, 2017]
- The Ninja Tune forum has shut down after 19 years - FACT Magazine - FACT [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2017]
- At the Spencer, surprises from new Asian artists - Pitch Weekly [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2017]
- BAK, basis voor actuele kunst - E-Flux [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2017]
- Musk and Bostrom's computer simulation theory isn't as crazy as it first sounds - The Plaid Zebra (blog) [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2017]
- Why We Are Not In A Computer Simulation Run By Posthumans - NPR - NPR [Last Updated On: March 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 10th, 2017]
- Milano Arch Week - E-Flux [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2017]
- Our Posthuman Future - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: June 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 18th, 2017]
- Why We're Probably Living in a Computer Simulation - Inverse [Last Updated On: June 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 24th, 2017]
- Inaugural Issues of the Journal of Posthuman Studies Now Available! - Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- Nam June Paik Art Center - E-Flux [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- An Interview With Rick Rosner on Women and the Future (Part 4) - The Good Men Project (blog) [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Pulitzer Prize Winner Jorie Graham's Collection of Poetry, 'Fast', Will Haunt You, Beautifully - PopMatters [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2017]
- Inevitably Posthuman? - The Weekly Standard [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2017]
- July 31, 2017 - Nam June Paik Art Center - Our Bright Future-Cybernetic Fantasy - E-Flux [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2017]
- Posthuman advertising: does AI spell the end of media and marketing as we know it? - Marketing magazine Australia (registration) [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2017]
- Posthuman age - DAWN.com [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- 9th Beyond Humanism Conference Wrap Up - Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies [Last Updated On: August 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 12th, 2017]
- Hall Center for the Humanities events to explore the posthuman condition - KU Today [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2017]
- News With Views | Reality Is Often Stranger Than Fiction ... [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2018] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2018]
- doppelgnger | The Posthuman Marxist [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2018]
- Posthuman Review People with Meeples [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2018] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2018]
- Orlan and Stelarc: Manifesting Posthuman Performance ... [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2018] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2018]
- Harms Way: Posthuman Album Review | Pitchfork [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2018] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2018]
- Design Diary 1 Posthuman Saga Intro Mighty Boards [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2018] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2018]
- The Posthuman Project (2014) YIFY - yts.am [Last Updated On: May 28th, 2018] [Originally Added On: May 28th, 2018]
- Ancient Lies & Shiny New Tech: Transhumanists Posthuman Plan [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2018] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2018]
- The Posthuman 1st Edition - amazon.com [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2018]
- The Posthuman Project - yts.am [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2018] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2018]
- Posthuman Ethics, Pain and Endurance | Utrecht Summer School [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2018]
- Posthuman: Sanctuary on Steam [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2018]
- How We Became Posthuman: Virtual Bodies in Cybernetics ... [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2018]
- Posthuman - SCP Foundation [Last Updated On: March 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 22nd, 2019]
- Ex Machina Now on Digital HD + Blu-Ray [Last Updated On: April 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2019]
- Producers are losing millions in royalties every year here's what you can do about it - DJ Mag [Last Updated On: September 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 19th, 2019]
- How Far Away Is Immortality? - Science 2.0 [Last Updated On: September 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 19th, 2019]
- HiX-Men Moment of the Week: Mutants are finally treating Magneto like the god he (thinks he) is - Comics Beat [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2019]
- X-Men #1 is Already Better Than All of HoXPoX [X-ual Healing 10-16-19] - Bleeding Cool News [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2019]
- 'The Expanse' Season 4 Review: Hard science, biological conflicts laced with emotions and action makes space d - MEAWW [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2019]
- Moscows Garage Museum Starts Pioneering Online Art Venueand Its More Than a Museum on the Internet - ARTnews [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2019]
- Best of 2019: Harm's Way Pick 5 Favorite Albums of Year - Revolver Magazine [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2019]
- WIRE Buzz: Stoned Kevin Smith weeps to Onward; The Willoughbys trailer; more - SYFY WIRE [Last Updated On: March 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 26th, 2020]
- Posthuman Saga is the post apocalyptic board game youve been waiting for - Big Boss Battle [Last Updated On: March 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 26th, 2020]
- Gary K. Wolfe Reviews The Hidden Girl and Other Stories by Ken Liu - Locus Online [Last Updated On: April 6th, 2020] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2020]
- These Are the Must-See TV Shows Premiering in April - HYPEBEAST [Last Updated On: April 6th, 2020] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2020]
- The Atmospheric Indie Exploration Title In Other Waters Has Been Released! - Happy Gamer [Last Updated On: April 6th, 2020] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2020]
- Article Posthuman cyborg love? The adaptation of the human body into machine-based offers in the sexual domain submitted, ..to be published... [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2020]
- Jaws Is the Perfect Blockbuster - The Ringer [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2020]
- The Vocoder's Cyborg Flights in Electronic Music and Hip-Hop - Reverb News [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2020]
- Covid-19 might have injected a new life into the conspiracy theory scene, but the fire was already ablaze - Daily Maverick [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- Posthuman | Literary Theory and Criticism [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- Posthuman | Transhumanism Wiki | Fandom [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- Caitlin Cherry on digital abstraction and Black femininity - Artforum [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2020]
- Posthuman | Tardis | Fandom [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2020]
- Last and First Men review eerie sounds and unearthly images from a posthuman world - The Guardian [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2020]
- Updating the Human Algorithm - lareviewofbooks [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2020]
- posthuman | The Chicago School of Media Theory [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- What does it mean to be posthuman? | New Scientist [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- Curated by Tan Yue, Study of Things. Or a Brief Story About Fountain, Brick, Tin, Coin, Stone, Shell, Curtain, and Body. at Guangdong Times Museum,... [Last Updated On: August 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 8th, 2020]
- Beyond Fermis Paradox VII: What it the Planetarium Hypothesis - Universe Today [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2020]
- Bring Me The Horizons Oli Sykes: Yungblud is a new breed of rockstar - NME.com [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2020]
- Reviewed: The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante - RTE.ie [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Bring Me The Horizon share behind-the-scenes look at Obey video shoot - NME.com [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- There's a 50-50 Chance We Really Are Living in a Simulation, Scientists Say - IGN Southeast Asia [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2020]
- Are the Posthumans Here Yet? - JSTOR Daily [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2020]
- Bring Me The Horizon explain delay in "bigger than intended" EP series - NME.com [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- The sci-fi thriller on Amazon Prime Video with a big twist at the end - CNET [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2021]
- Posthuman Ensemble - Announcements - e-flux [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2021]
- 'Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Sustainable War' Ending Explained: Is Togusa compromised? - MEAWW [Last Updated On: May 12th, 2022] [Originally Added On: May 12th, 2022]
- Posthuman - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2022] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2022]