Start with the premise that computing power is increasing and getting cheaper to the point where in the future we will be able to create simulations of the past indistinguishable from actual reality “a Matrix.” Add the given that people in that future will be interested in playing games that involve such virtual realities, including simulations of past times on earth.
We are left with the inescapable conclusion that we are almost certainly living in a simulated reality.
After all, we would have many, many simulations played by many many people just as we have many copies of Warcraft now. It is unlikely that you are one of the “players.” in such a reality, a real human. You are a bit of programming, a non player character, background. Of course, the realism factor of the simulation means that for all intents and purposes you are an actual independent thinking being, just an artificial one. You can pass a turing test otherwise you wouldn’t be good enough programming to be in the game. Naturally, you think you are a human rather than a bit of programming, as it would ruin the game if all the NPC realized they were artificial programs within a simulation.
So, taking that as a given, I’ve been looking for the Easter Eggs, the cheats. Signs of the underlying program. This begs the question, what exactly should I be looking for?
It seems likely that the simulation would need to be deliberately distinguishable from actual reality to a person who was a player rather than a bit of programming. Unfortunately as NPCs we would be programmed to ignore or not notice such signs. That we are programed in such a fashion is demonstrable. There is a rather famous awareness test wherein the test subjects view a room with two groups of people in it passing balls around. The subject is told to count the number of passes one of the groups makes. Afterwards they give the answer. They are then asked if they noticed the gorilla. You see, in the middle of the test a gorilla walks into the room and beats its chest and then walks out. Almost nobody ever notices the gorilla. Though, once you know it’s there, it’s quite obvious upon a second viewing.
Try it on a spouse or friend:
Tell them to count the number of passes by the people in white.
So, we are designed to miss things we are not expecting to see. That in itself is pretty suspicious. The ability to recognize anomalies would have high survival value from an evolutionary standpoint, so it’s not reasonable that we don’t unless it’s been deliberately omitted from our psyches.
Then, I’ve been thinking about who the players are.
Thoughts?