This topic is appropriate for just the right amount of nerdiness gone wild. The premise being, are we in an advanced simulation of a videogame (not a joke, pure non-fiction).

The book The Simulation Hypothesis by Rizwan Virk felt a bit too much like someone playing an absurd amount of video games and getting so absorbed into it that it must be real.

The problem is that if we’re in an advanced level video game, where is the beginners level? Where did that begin? With the dinosaurs? There’s a lot of bias to this belief. The type of game also matters. If it’s a simulation then it would only be role play games. Or, adventure, 3D, RPG games, as he puts it. This allows us to choose who we want to be.

Is that really true, though? Are we choosing who we want to be if we are indeed in a video game simulation. Who’s the driver? Are they the ones making the decision or are we autonomous? If the former, what is the benefit in allowing us to discover that we’re in a simulation in the first place?

If the argument is that we’ve just advanced that much, similar to modern AI constantly learning, then why not end the game? Why not erase the “code” for self-discovery?

How can we distinguish false memories from “real” ones if we’re in a simulation? I don’t see how that matters if we’re all characters in a game, but this is brought up in detail. All memories would be “fake” or simulated as well. In addition, they aren’t memories at all but more like implanted interpretations.

What about consciousness? Can it be simulated? If we’re only random characters with individual stories, I’d imagine we do not BUT the operator of the game can make it come off as such. Meaning, we aren’t who we are at all but the players are.

We’re only a mirror of them or who they want to be. So, who are we? Maybe that’s why the question comes up so often. If we have advanced to the degree of consciousness, there won’t be much satisfaction in the Truth.

I don’t see how the simulation hypothesis is much different from religion, or is a religion in itself? Given that it is a belief then that seems like a religion and not a hypothesis.

My question: what is the benefit in knowing that we’re in a video game? Now what? How does it impact the creator(s) to know that we’re completely aware of our true existence. IS that the end of the game or does another begin? I.e. multiverses.

Obviously, I have a lot of questions that I’d like to ask this guy. He seems to have it all figured out in his own right. He’s highly intelligent based on his background but the hypothesis has a lot of flaws or at least questionable articulated opinions.

With that, my final questions are:

– Who runs the game?
– Are there several games or just one? Are they beyond the black hole?
– Does someone run those who run the games and so on? Where does it end…where does it begin?
– Are the games broken up? Meaning, someone (or something) runs the people, another runs the environment, etc.
– What happens when those who run the game are no longer able to or are they eternal? Is running the game their entire existence?
– Who determines the maximum life capacity of people and things (humans, animals, plants, nature, etc)? Why do people live to be 100ish and why do they “age?” What’s the point of death when there are successful/prominent/essential characters/players?

This all goes right back to the chicken/egg God/evolution dispute so I don’t see much difference in the hypothesis. It’s cool in theory and I can see where he’s going with it, but I’d just like a bit more than what’s given here. His other books might elaborate, perhaps.

3/5 because it’s entertaining and creative. 2/5 if it’s based on science and “facts.”