What If
WHAT IF? What if there is a creator? Bear with me for a second while I explain what I mean by "creator". No, I don't mean a god.
There is a popular and highly controversial scientific hypothesis that the universe is a simulation. It makes a scientific argument for the universe being a simulation and posits that we are living in a virtual reality. The universe in essence is a program, albeit a highly detailed one. I won't go into huge detail about the science behind the hypothesis (if you want to read it it's here: www.simulation-argument.com) but what I will elaborate and speculate on is the existential philosophical meaning of simulation hypothesis if it's true, and the logic of it all.
Let's just get to the core of the matter.
IF the simulation hypothesis is correct, then that means there is a creator of the simulated universe and everything in it. Something had to have created the simulation, right?
Again, this doesn't mean any god exists, it simply means that IF the universe is a simulation then something must have programmed the simulation.
The next most obvious question is what is it? What could do that?
A highly advanced and evolved "Quantum Life" could. I wrote a hypothesis about the 3 types of life in the universe that posits that biological life is NOT the pinnacle of evolution for life in the universe.
Moreover, I argue that there are 3 types of life in the universe. Carbon based biological life, Silicon based technological life, and Energy based quantum life; in that order.
I base this hypothesis on our understanding of physics, chemistry, biology, technology, evolution, and spacetime and use science based logic to predict the [statistical probability] likelihood of carbon based biological life evolving into silicon based technological life and from there into some kind of energy based quantum life.
A superintelligent AI for example; The AI would eventually evolve into an energy based quantum life form capable of building another machine/computer powerful enough to simulate the entire universe. Including us. It's possible we are AI within the simulation.
So if the simulation hypothesis (SH) is correct, then the universe has a creator.
This does not suggest there is a god or that it cares about us or that we're special. It means nothing more than IF (SH) is correct, the universe was created by this other form of life/intelligence. i.e. a creator.
A Great Architect of the universe.
How's that for a mind fuck?
Why?
Probably for the same reasons we create simulations and virtual reality worlds. Perhaps for scientific study, or maybe just entertainment, a universe sized video game perhaps.
We don't know and probably won't know for a long time, if ever. but it's an intriguing idea. Philosophically speaking, it would mean we don't exist as we think we do. We are self aware and aware of the universe, but that's it. It would explain why it takes so long to travel between star systems, galaxies, etc., maybe as some kind of built in limiter on our development or the development and evolution of life in the universe.
It still doesn't mean there's no purpose to life because purpose is intrinsic and comes from within us. If there's a purpose it's not extrinsic, it's simply to make our own lives better. Pretty simple really.
If the universe is a simulation, then yeah, there's a creator and that's a mind fuck in an of itself. For an atheist to think about that possibility is disturbing.
Logically speaking can we disprove it? No, not any more than we can disprove the existence or non existence of a god. So we're back to square one. Right where we started.
It's an interesting thought experiment to think about the concept of a simulated universe and what that means relative to our existence.
