It's a plot device beloved by science fiction: our entire universe might be a simulation running on some advanced civilization's supercomputer. But new research from UBC Okanagan has mathematically proven this isn't just unlikely—it's impossible.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/56676015

Their findings, published in the Journal of Holography Applications in Physics, go beyond simply suggesting that we’re not living in a simulated world like The Matrix. They prove something far more profound: the universe is built on a type of understanding that exists beyond the reach of any algorithm.

  • CarbonIceDragon@pawb.socialEnglish
    9·
    3 days ago

    It seems to me that it should be impossible to truly prove that the universe isnt a simulation. If you lived in a simulation, then the simulator theoretically can control everything that you experience, to include things like the activity of your own neurons and whatever else plays a role in your thinking. As such, they can, if they wish, make you believe that you have seen something that is inconsistent with a simulation, even if you have not, make you believe that something you did see is inconsistent with one even if it isnt, or cause you to believe that a certain chain of logic must rule out a simulation even though it doesnt. As such, there is a subset of hypothetical simulated worlds in which you are absolutely but falsely convinced that simulation is disproven. How can you tell the difference between one of these and a “real” world where you really have disproved simulation?

    • wia@lemmy.caEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      Hijacking the simulation that hard feels like it would defeat the purpose of the sim. You interested with the experiment and can never be sure you didn’t influence the results one way or another.

      I’ll let the mathgicians figure it out tho. I’m dumb.

      • CarbonIceDragon@pawb.socialEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        I mean, theres no way to really know what the purpose of the sim is, if youre in a sim, except for that it probably isnt one that conflicts with whatever you see. It doesnt have to be an experiment.

        Mind, I dont think the universe is a sim, but it seems to me that to truly prove that it cant be the case, there have to be absolutely no scenarios where being in a sim is consistent with what you experience. And there’s probably a potential purpose that some entity might have to justify any scenario that can be constructed, especially given that the simulator need not be human and therefore might have completely alien motivations.

        • wia@lemmy.caEnglish
          2·
          2 days ago

          I agree 100%

          I don’t think we’re in a sim. Even giving us the ability to think it could be one would be something to avoid. I do like the thought experiment at least.

    • arendjr@programming.devOPEnglish
      1·
      3 days ago

      I think William of Ockham has a thing or two to say about that, but there’s no arguing with the reasoning! 😆