Simulation Theory, or Are You Living in a Video Game?

I ponder this a lot, and there is no doubt the first ‘Matrix’ film played a big role in spawning a whole new generation of simulation theorists, yet, it goes back much further than ‘The Matrix.’ Plato’s analogy of the cave was a simulation theory of sorts, he was speaking to artificial realities, and I can only imagine the lies government of the time told may have inspired his story, that combined with how easy it was for systems of governance to get the common people to believe in whatever propaganda they wanted to project.

Another good example of an early simulation theorist would be Chuang Tzu and his famous butterfly dream wherein he said: “Once upon a time, I, Chuang Tzu, dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of following my fancies as a butterfly and was unconscious of my individuality as a man. Suddenly, I awaked, and there I lay, myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man..”

The above Chuang Tzu quote has impacted my curiosity about the simulation hypothesis, and I would say it’s just as powerful, if not more so than the ideas offered in the Matrix film. People resonate with the theory, and I think deep down they know because of the road in which technology is heading, we as a species will invent photorealistic virtual environments. We will inhabit them and also develop the capability of recreating or simulating all five senses within these artificial realms.

With virtual reality devices, we’re already 2/5ths of the way there. When you strap on the headgear, both sight and sound are simulated. You find yourself in Plato’s cave, and it shows a new reality. We do this today for entertainment, as it is a nice escape. The technology is also useful for therapeutic means, as it can help people with phobias get close to experiencing something terrifying, without putting them in a position where harm can come to them.

Aside from the therapeutic applications, if you can project yourself 50-100 years into the future when we’ve perfected simulating sensory perception and the ability to send the information into the brain, it will be a brave new world. Perhaps we will create games you don’t even know that you are playing while you’re playing them, like for example, this game you’re playing right now.