According to Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom, the chances are pretty good that we’re currently existing not in the “real world,” but instead are a vast computer simulation created by a future, further advanced version of ourselves. Yeah, crazy, I know. Basically, he argues that because computing power will advance to the point where a system could be built that could simulate every brain on earth, future “posthumans” could set up an “ancestor simulator” that would be indistinguishable from real life for the inhabitants. I’m totally not stoned enough for this to really blow my mind, but it’s a really interesting theory. While Bostrom thinks there’s a 20% chance of our entire world being a computer simulation, John Tierney of the New York Times thinks the odds are closer to even. But hey, even if it’s true and this is really all happening in some future nerd’s PC, it’s not so bad, is it? As long as the computer doesn’t overheat; that’d be a really lame way to go. [NY Times]
Tominator66
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 11:15 AMI wonder if these guys may have seen the Matrix??
Matt
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 11:33 AMWhat an idiot. For thousands of years people have known the universe was created, our moron friend has just substituted ‘God’ with a big ‘Computer’. He has also conveniently taken ‘free will’ and ‘rational thought’ off of the table – woot! I’m not responsible for my actions anymore.
Go sell crazy someplace else mate.
feral
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 1:16 PMTake the blue pill neo..
Simmo
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 7:51 PMI think Mr Bostrom has seen the Matrix way too many times for his own good.
Woody
Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 2:43 PMThis was a movie called the 13th Floor.