Is life a computer simulation?

Question

In a New York Post article yesterday, a philospher, Nick Bostrom, posited that life has a 20% chance of being a simulation from the future. While this is a rehash of a rehash of an idea, and Ray Kurzweil talks about similar things in his books, it is a good question.

Are we in a simulation? How could we tell if we were? Would it change things? Should Simology be a religion?

The article is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/science/14tier.html

And I have more background info here:
http://esylum.blogspot.com/2007/08/simology-new-new-religion.html

Dj_Ez · Accepted Answer

Yes, this question would exist without the Matrix.  Read the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy.

The answer your looking for is 42.

Anonymous · Answer

If you could create a simulation of an object that is accurate down to the sub atomic level, would this representation be the exact same thing as the object you were simulating? If you duplicated the object atom for atom would the sim projection be another copy of the actual object? Would you have created a clone of the original object? What's the difference between an accurate simulation and the real thing?

Anonymous · Answer

I think you have watched The Matrix one too many times.

soñador · Answer

If this is a simulation, can someone call an engineer as it looks as if it is malfunctioning!

Anonymous · Answer

Would this question exist if it there were no Matrix movies?

Anonymous · Answer

I don't think so. its all about ACTION to steer towards the direction you desire, but of course the intention must be pure and good for one and others :)

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Is life a computer simulation?

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