Theory Explained: Simulation Theory

The Matrix... Arguably one of the greatest science fiction movie franchises of all time. Back when it was released in 1999, its plot about our reality being a simulation created by a more technologically advanced intelligent race was nothing more than a work of science fiction. Then, in 2003, all of that changed at the hands of a man named Nick Bostrom. His paper, published in Philosophical Quarterly, was the first serious intellectual publication to propose simulation theory. Since then the theory has gained a substantial amount of traction, even with some big names from silicon valley. Elon Musk shook all the skeptics when he was on the Joe Rogan Podcast. He said and I quote:

"The chance that we are living in base reality is one in a million."

That podcast was legendary for several reasons but I'm not sure people were expecting him to have such a supporting opinion on simulation theory before then.

Now that simulation theory has grown to no longer be just another plot of science fiction novels, it has seriously spiked my curiosity about the idea and what it really means. The theory suggests that our conscious experience is a simulated one but what exactly qualifies as consciousness? How could we even prove that we aren't experiencing a simulated reality? Second, if it is a simulated reality then are we even in control of our own choices, or is it like a video game and our choices are controlled by the creators? If we are in fact living in a simulation, then what was the purpose for creating our reality in the first place..? What goal could the creators be trying to achieve? These are the questions we will be trying to find an answer to. In order for us to do so, we will have to start at the beginning, with the godfather of the theory himself Nick Bostrom.

The God Father Of Simulation Theory

When Nick Bostrom published his paper in Philosophical Quarterly back in 2003, it took the scientific community by storm. This wasn't some backwoods quack who was proposing this, after all, it was a well-respected member of the community. Which means when Bostrom started speaking, other respected scientist began to listen. His paper successfully convinced many scientists who originally didn't give the subject a second thought.

His paper provided 3 overall propositions that were present throughout the majority of his writing.

1. The human race is very likely to go extinct before reaching a "post-human" stage.

2. Any "post-human" civilization is extremely unlikely to run a significant number of simulations of their evolutionary history or variations thereof.

3. We are almost certainly living in a simulation.

Two out of three of these proposals can be interesting for some and terrifying for others. The idea that our entire conscious experience is no more than a simulated program is enough to make anyone feel sick to their stomach. On the other side of that coin, the concept that we as a species will become extinct before we ever reach our technological peak is, in my opinion, far more frightening.

Nick Bostrom goes into further detail about how this theory would work if we put it into practice. For instance, he explains how there are certain things in life that we can't see until we look for them, like when we look for atoms in a microscope or galaxies in a telescope. He theorizes that we can't see these things until we look for them because when we do search for them the creators put in the coding for us to see them. Use video games as a reference, there are many video games these days that have small details within them that one would never discover unless they interact with certain objects. So basically, when we stare into a microscope searching for subatomic particles, the only reason we find them is because the creators coding our simulation made it so, same with when you search for other solar systems and galaxies. Is that why atoms and solar systems look so similar?

Bostrom proposed that if we took the possibility that we are indeed living in a simulation seriously, then one of his three propositions had to be true. If you would like to read his paper for yourself, it can very easily be found online. I would highly recommend it, what better way to educate yourself on the scientific argument for the theory than from the God Father himself.

The Fourth Proposition

Over the years many of those who are interested/invested in the theory have proposed a fourth possibility. We are in fact living in base reality and we just haven't reached the level of technology needed to create an authentic simulated version of reality. However, we're well on our way to reaching that level.

Video games are a perfect example to support this proposition. Look at what video games were back in the '80s, two lines bouncing a ball back in forth? Now, look at what they've become today... GTA Online, Red Dead Redemption 2, Mass Effect, Skyrim, even the game Sims says it in its name! Video games have gone from pixel forms of entertainment to immersive worlds created specifically for gamers to get lost in. Now we even have virtual reality, if we continue at this rate of advancement, then it won't be very long before we create an authentic simulated version of reality. That is why Bostrom's first proposal is so extremely terrifying... because when you take the rate of advancement we are currently on and how we couldn't be too far from reaching the ability to create an authentic simulation, then the first proposal suggests our demise is in the near future.

Deja Vu & The Mandela Effect

Deja vu is another variable in the simulation theory equation. Scientists have yet to establish an explanation for the phenomenon. In fact, simulation theory provides a better explanation than any of the ones proposed by mainstream science. What if Deja vu was nothing more than a small glitch in the system? The reason something feels as if it has happened before is that it has but in another one of the creator's simulated realities.

The same can be said about the Mandela Effect. For those who are not aware, the Mandela Effect is the phenomenon where a substantial amount of people all remember a certain thing incorrectly. Like the iconic line: "Luke, I am your father." The line is legendary, however, it was never really said in the film, not exactly. The actual line in the movie is "No... I am your father." Don't believe me? Go back and rewatch Return Of The Jedi so you can see for yourself. Why does a phenomenon like this occur and how could it occur on such a massive scale? Well maybe the details we all remember are correct but in another one of the realities, the creators are simulating. Can you provide a better explanation for Deja vu and the Mandela Effect? If so then please feel free to reach out to me on my Instagram and let me know.

What Is Consciousness

What exactly is our conscious experience, scientifically speaking, why are we even experiencing it? This is one of the biggest questions that has ever been asked by scientists and philosophers. It is one that we have been asking for centuries. However, in spite of that large timeframe, we have yet to determine a solid answer. The fact remains, scientists still don't really have an idea of what consciousness actually is.

The late philosopher Allan Watts has a speech about consciousness that contributes to simulation theory. I'm not sure if whether or not that was his intention but nonetheless if the shoe fits... Watts compares consciousness to a computer, he states that everything we experience is information and that our minds are the computer used to process this information.

"When you're looking at a computer screen on the internet, the pictures can look solid, it can look like your looking at a solid world on the screen; and in the same way we are picking up information from this, what I call the cosmic internet. The 5 senses are turning it from vibrational information into electrical information, which then is decoded by the brain into this world which we think is outside of us because that's the illusion. But it actually only exists in our heads when we decode it. This reality only exists in this physical sense when it's observed."

If you'd like to hear his speech in its entirety, then click the video below. There is a timestamp in the description for Graham Hancock's speech that I recommend you begin at because he has some interesting perspectives about consciousness today as well. The timestamp for Hancock's speech is 20:45, I highly suggest that you start there or just listen to the video all the way through, it's filled with influential speeches by both scientists and philosophers alike.

Final Thoughts

Now that we have taken a deep dive into simulation theory, I am left with even more questions than when we began. How do we know we are in control of our actions? Is any of this real? If not then why would they create this simulated reality? Maybe it's to observe all possible outcomes in order to figure out a way to prevent a certain future or maybe it's simply to study the past. Are the creator's future versions of ourselves or are they something else? If they're something that isn't us then are they good or evil? So many questions and for now all we can do is speculate.

Whether or not we are living inside of a simulated reality created by a much more intelligent race, one thing can be said with certainty. Our reality really is stranger than fiction and somewhere... the truth is out there.

Message to the reader

All of the information provided above can be found online. I want to thank you for joining me on this journey and I really hope you learned something new in the process. If you enjoyed this article and would like to read future content of Theory Explained, then please take a moment to subscribe to my writing platform with Vocal. I would also like to take a moment and thank the Vocal team for providing writers, such as myself, with a platform for us to share our stories with readers like you.

Forever thankful,

Carlos Guerra