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Are We Living in a Simulation? Defining What’s Real in a Questionable Reality
Ever since philosopher Nick Bostrom floated the mind-bending idea that we might be living in a simulation, it’s been a hot topic. Big names like Elon Musk and Neil deGrasse Tyson have jumped on board, with some even throwing around odds like “50:50.”
Now, I’ve got my own take on the whole “Are we living in a simulation?” question, and it’s time to break it down. But first, let’s start with a simple question: What is a simulation? According to Wikipedia (because, obviously, all philosophical debates start with Wikipedia), a simulation is an imitative representation of a process or system that could exist in the real world.
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So, what’s fueling this theory? People point to mind-boggling phenomena like quantum superpositions (Schrödinger’s Cat, anyone?), or the bizarre experiences people have on meditation retreats, LSD trips, or that one time you thought you saw your cat float. These effects often get trotted out as “proof” that, just maybe, we’re living in some ultra-high-tech, cosmic video game.
But here’s the real kicker — why ask if we’re in a simulation when we don’t even know what the “real world” is?
