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Re: Artificial Life and the Universe
Posted By: Fuzzpilz, on host 193.158.29.232
Date: Monday, April 2, 2001, at 04:31:44
In Reply To: Artificial Life and the Universe posted by Oeras on Sunday, April 1, 2001, at 21:01:29:

A few years ago, I thought of something: maybe it could be possible to simulate a whole universe using a computer, and watch for inventions we need but can't think of ourselves? Then I thought, wait, what if the inhabitants of our universe have the same idea? Then I had a thought similar to yours, i.e: what if someone already thought of that and created us? Then I'd guess God is a programmer, and a very good one at that, of course. A few months back, I thought of this again and suddenly it struck me that we could only simulate a universe significantly smaller than ours because of all the little details and quantum fluctuations and whatnot. Everything would have to be represented by something, which means that simulating an entire universe with all its complexities is impossible. So maybe our universe is just a simulation, but a simulation that is simulated by itself.

--Fuzz"the time when I get the most complicated and interesting thoughts is when I lie in bed and try to sleep, although I was completely unable to think coherently before I laid down"pilz