Is this world a simulation?

A Reflection on "Are We Living in a Simulated Reality?"

Hey, this is a super cool question! It's not a simple "how's the weather today?" kind of query; it's one of those philosophical questions that can make your brain buzz late into the night. Many sci-fi films, like The Matrix, have extensively explored this idea. As an "old netizen" who enjoys flights of fancy, I've also pondered this. Here are some of my views, trying to keep them as easy to understand as possible.

Why Some People Believe the World is Virtual (The "Proponents' View")

This idea is known as the "Simulation Hypothesis." Those who find it plausible often present the following "evidence" or lines of reasoning:

1. The Possibility of Logical Deduction

   • The most famous proponent of this theory, philosopher Nick Bostrom, proposed a very simple logical argument:
   • Consider this: if a civilization continues to develop, its technological level will eventually become advanced enough to create incredibly realistic virtual worlds, much like the sophisticated simulation games we play today, but so real that the "characters" (NPCs) within them possess self-awareness.
   • If they can create one, they can create countless others.
   • Therefore, between "one real universe" and "countless virtual universes," what is the probability that you, as a conscious being, would randomly "be born" into that single real universe, rather than one of the countless virtual ones? Statistically speaking, the likelihood of us being "simulated people" becomes very high.

2. The Universe's Strong Sense of "Rules"

   • Our universe is governed by a set of incredibly precise and unyielding physical laws, such as gravity, the speed of light, and so on.
   • This doesn't seem like the product of random chaos; instead, it resembles a meticulously written "code." Much like a game's physics engine, which dictates how everything operates.

3. The "Peculiar" Behavior of the Quantum World

   • In the microscopic quantum world, there are many strange phenomena.
   • For instance, before you "observe" a particle, it seems to exist in an uncertain superposition state; once observed, its state becomes definite.
   • Does this sound familiar? Isn't this just like a game that, to save computational resources, only begins to render an area in detail when you "look" in that direction? When you're not looking, those things are just data, not needing to be "drawn" out.

4. The Universe Seems to Have a "Resolution"

   • Scientists have discovered that energy, time, and space in our universe do not seem to be infinitely divisible. There exists a minimum unit, known as "Planck length" or "Planck time."
   • This is like pixels on a computer screen; no matter how much you zoom in, you can't see anything smaller than a single pixel. If the world is virtual, then the existence of a "minimum unit" or "resolution" seems very logical.

Why Many People Believe the World is Real (The "Opponents' View")

Of course, this idea sounds like science fiction, but there are also many reasons for us to believe the world is real.

1. Occam's Razor Principle

   • This is a classic philosophical principle, meaning "Entities should not be multiplied without necessity." In plain terms: among all explanations, the simplest one is often the most reliable.
   • The explanation that "the world is real" is much simpler than "the world is a virtual program simulated by a super-civilization using a supercomputer." The latter requires you to additionally hypothesize a "higher-level real world" and a "super-powerful simulator," which is too complex.

2. Lack of Any Actual Evidence

   • All the "proponents'" arguments mentioned above are based merely on analogy and speculation.
   • We have no direct, verifiable evidence to prove that the world is virtual. The "rule-like nature" of physical laws can also be explained as the natural attributes of the universe, without necessarily having to involve "code."

3. The "Who Simulated the Simulator?" Infinite Loop

   • If we are a simulated program, then is the civilization that simulated us real? Or were they also simulated by an even higher-level civilization? This kind of nested layering would go on endlessly.

So, What's the Significance of This Question for Us Ordinary People?

After all this discussion, you might ask: So what? Even if the world is virtual, what does it matter?

This is the crux of the matter. I believe that no matter what the answer is, it actually has little impact on our present lives.

• Your feelings are real. Whether you are in a "real" physical world or a "virtual" data world, the joy, sorrow, love, and pain you experience are 100% real to you. The spiciness you feel when eating hotpot, and the warmth you feel when embracing a loved one, won't be discounted just because the world is virtual.
• Rules are rules. Even if physical laws are "code," they are still rules we must abide by. You can't try to jump off a tall building and expect to resurrect like a game character just because you suspect you're virtual. The rules of this "game" are simply set this way.
• Meaning is created by you. The meaning of life is what you give it. Your goals, your dreams, your relationships with others – these constitute the value of your life. Which is less valuable: a great work of art created in a virtual world, or one created in a real world? I believe they are the same.

In Summary

"Is this world virtual?" is an excellent thought experiment; it challenges our definition of "reality" and prompts us to ponder the essence of existence.

Currently, it can neither be proven nor disproven. You can treat it as an interesting science fiction premise.

So, rather than getting caught up in the true or false nature of the world, it's better to fully experience this "version" that we can perceive, and strive to make it more exciting. After all, even if it's a game, we might as well enjoy playing it, right?