X-Message-Number: 17391 Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2001 22:56:15 -0700 (PDT) From: Scott Badger <> Subject: Still more on Simulations Hi all, I made some earlier comments suggesting this apparent reality was most probably a simulation and it was either Olaf or Yvon that responded with what I thought was a great counter-point. Specifically, it was suggested that it would be ridiculous to assume that some entity would use the enormous amount of resources required to simulate an entire universe just for us to reside in. Interestingly enough, this is an argument I used to apply to the concept that god created an entire universe just so that humans could cavort on this single planet. Anyway, two counter-counter-points came to me recently: (1) We really can't make any assumptions about how reasonable/unreasonable it might be for an unknown entity to go to that much trouble. (2) If this is a simulation, it may be the case that the designer did not actually create the rest of the universe. It may be that the designer only feeds us (hubble, astronomers, etc) the information about the universe. IOW, when anyone looks at a point of light we call a star, there's no proof the star is really there. We may examine the point of light with our very best instruments and come to many conclusions about the nature of that point of light, but for all we know, it may just be information "about" the point of light, not the point of light itself. After all, it wouldn't take nearly as much memory/resources to provide us with information about the rest of the universe as it would to actually try to simulate the universe. This view is likely faulty, so somebody please correct my thinking if they can. I'm still chewing on George Smith's perspective on self-worth and hope to respond after I've digested it more fully ... if I can find the time, that is. BTW, I really like it up here in northern Idaho so far. It's so pretty. Best regards, Scott __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/ Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=17391