The questions about existence are some of the biggest questions that we have. We’ve always been an inquisitive species and therefore the need to know is inherent within us and hence, the pursuit of the answers to these questions.

Scientists and researchers apart, even the common human thinks about the nature of reality and what it all means and there is, in my opinion, nothing bigger and more sophisticated to think about.

There have been many scientific theories and even philosophies that try to answer some of the most burning questions we have and to an extent we have some knowledge about it. But then, we hear about radical new theories that challenge these theories or that add to the explanations we have but in a way that changes everything!

One of those radical theories is that the whole reality is nothing but a simulation. The idea is not new and there have been many movies made about this before. Even some really smart people in the world (Elon Musk, Neil deGrasse Tyson) believe in it. But what exactly does it mean?

A Simulated Reality

When we say reality, we mean literally everything that exists. This includes the entire existence. The existence of us, the universe, your cat, your grandma, every single thing! So, when someone comes along and says reality is not real, you would definitely scratch your head.

The Simulation Hypothesis does just that. It states that our reality is a computer simulation built by a highly intelligent species. That effectively makes the universe and everything in it, lines of code!

If you think about it, this idea is not too far fetched. In fact, just take a look at our own abilities of creating simulations, which has come a long way in just a few decades. Today, millions of people play online games simultaneously that look very realistic.

With time, and technologies like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, these virtual worlds will be almost impossible to tell apart from reality. So, if we can achieve this, a higher intelligent species that is thousands of years more advanced than us, surely can!

This idea became really popular after the Matrix movies, where the main character, Neo, was given two choices (red pill and blue pill). He could remain in the virtual world or could wake up in the real one. IF our reality was a simulation too, and you were given the same choices, which one would you take?

The Blue Pill

In the Matrix movies, taking the blue pill means simply continuing to live like before, in the simulation, which they call Matrix. This would mean that the person would never know the truth.

I wonder how many people would take the blue pill if presented with the options. Continuing to live life as it was, even though it isn’t real, definitely has some comfort in it. That familiarity might feel just too good to abandon.

There might be many who could simply remain in denial because their whole idea of reality, their beliefs, the life as they know it would be challenged and this might be too difficult for them to accept and therefore they might automatically go into denial mode and opt for the blue pill.

As they say, ignorance is bliss and I wonder how many would choose the comfortable ignorance and a system they are familiar to over a harsh and radically different reality, where they might even be in danger.

The Red Pill

In the Matrix movies, taking the red pill wakes you up in the real world, so you are no longer living in the fake virtual world created by the machines. So, you then exist in the world that the machines have taken over.

If our own reality was a simulation, we have no idea who the programmers of it might be and if they would be good or evil. Taking the red pill would literally transfer you to their world and out of this fake one.

If I had the choice, I would take the red pill and I think a lot of you would too. I would rather get slapped by a harsh truth than live a comfortable lie. Also, our curious nature would definitely make us want to ‘know’ what real really is and in the moment, the decision would be pretty clear.

There would be no meaning to life if we declined the red pill because as Morpheus says to Neo, “It’s the question that drives us” and if we choose to ignore the existence of the question itself, I see no meaning to such a life. In fact, that would make us perfect suitors of ‘their’ virtual world.