Re: Are we simulated by some massive computer?

From: George Levy <glevy.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 13:08:08 -0700

Bruno Marchal wrote:

>
> Put in another way, *either* the massive computer simulates the exact
> laws of physics (exact with comp = the laws extractible from the
> measure on all 1-computations) in which case we belong to it but
> in that case we belong also to all its "copy" in Platonia, and our
> prediction or physics relies on all those copies (so that to say
> we belong to the massive computer has no real meaning: if it stops,
> nothing can happen to "us" for example); *or* the massive
> computer simulates only an approximation of those laws (like a
> brain during the night), and then we can in principle make the
> comparison, and find the discrepancies, and conclude we inhabit
> a fake reality ... OK?
>

Bruno

This is a very interesting method of testing what I thought was
untestable. However, I see some problems. The number of simulations
within Platonia is likely to be infinite. In addition, you may be
simulated at more than one level, possibly at an infinite number of
levels, including at the "base" level in Platonia if there is such a thing.

While the number of instances of "you" in the computer may be limited,
the number of computers in Platonia may be infinite. In addition, the
number of "real you" in Platonia is also likely to be infinite.

Your existence at the base level in Platonia is much more likely than
the existence of a simulation computer (because the computer is
presumably much more complex than you) and therefore, your measure in
Platonia will swamp out your measure in the computers.

Your proposed test idea is interesting but it should be designed to
cancel out these infinities.

George
Received on Tue Apr 13 2004 - 16:14:12 PDT