The following text was written to support the noti;on we are in a Matrix game.
By
Jamie Busby
Reality
How
do we observe anything in what we believe to be our reality? We use
sight, smell and our other senses. This is our subjective reality,
based on the subject doing the observing; You.
We
are all alone in our own heads. Our perception of "reality"
is created by neurons in our brain translating what our senses are
showing us.
Then
there is objective reality; This is literally everything that is
going on everywhere that we are not aware of, but exists nonetheless.
It could be seen as the culmination of everyone's subjective
realities, thus existing even without our knowledge or observation.
However,
we cannot know if an objective reality exists until someone has
observed and confirmed it.
Two
people can view the exact same "thing" yet perceive it in
many different ways to each other. By definition, an objective
reality can only be fixed with no room for interpretation.
This
begs the question; Can you prove that anything outside of your own
subjective reality is actually real?
A
lesson from babies
As
adults, we can look around and see houses, trees, cars,etc... Once we
look away, we know that those things still exist, we do not need to
be observing them to know that they are still there. This is called
"Object Permanence".
We
are not born with this "sense". If you play peek-a-boo with
a child under 12 months old, when you cover your face they literally
believe you have vanished into thin air. But once you drop your
hands, you are suddenly back from wherever you disappeared to;
hopefully to great amusement.
You
have re-emerged into their reality, from which you seemed to have
momentarily left.
By
the time we are about 2 years old, we learn that just because things
are not present does not mean they have ceased to exist.
However,
although we learn object permanence, we are still basing what we
think we know, about all that we cannot see, on our subjective
reality. How can we be certain what we can't see actually exists?
It's only this learnt perception that tells us it does.
Is
it all about you?
Everything
everywhere is made up of atoms, the fundamental building blocks of
the universe. We know this because they have been seen under
microscopes; I have never personally seen an atom under a microscope
but I accept it, because science says so.
What
if... the very notion of a universe that consists of billions of
galaxies across billions of light years is a myth?
The
creators of such a simulation would simply have to fabricate the
consciousness of it's subjects; us. There would be no need to
simulate an entire universe, just that which is seen by our combined
subjective realities.
What
if it was not in fact subjects but just one subject; You?
Can
any of us prove conclusively that every other person and everything
on the planet, plus all that we perceive of the entire universe, is
nothing more than part of the simulation itself?
I
do not wish to make anyone paranoid; rest assured that I am not part
of an elaborate computer program. But your belief in that lies in
trusting me. And my belief lies in trusting everyone else as the
solitary subject could be me.
Real
simulations
Let's
take a video game. They are a computer simulation of a form of
reality that you play in. While playing, graphical scenery will not
render in until necessary. It's a waste of computer power to generate
more "reality" than is needed or will be observed.
Video
games are our simulations, for our entertainment. Does it not make
sense that if we are living in a simulation, the creators would not
bother to "render" that which is unnecessary too?
I'm
sure we've all heard the philosophical question "If a tree falls
in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?".
In
a simulated universe, if no one is around to observe the galaxies
through a powerful telescope, what would be the point of them
existing at all times, such as when they're not being observed?
If
true, then it's possible that just small parts of the universe exist
at any one time, wholly dependent on whether they are being viewed or
not.
Technology
The
advances made in this field over the last 100 years are staggering.
What's more, the advance of technology is accelerating all the time,
it's not been a set developmental pace.
As
long as the progress continues, even if slowly, there will come a
point where we will have almost unlimited computational power. We are
already capable of running simulations on current super-computers
that demonstrate the workings of the universe.
In
1970 we had "Game of Life", nowadays we have "The
Illustris Project". It too could be called a zero player game.
Scientists gave the program specific properties, data and conditions
that they believe match those at the time the universe began and then
simply let it run.
It's
produced quite accurate results with regards to it's projections of
the universe, as we know it, on a large scale. As computing power
increases, one can only assume the results will become more refined.
The
point I'm trying to make is that if we can see a future where we can
simulate our own universe using a computer, is it not too much of a
jump to consider that it has already been done by "others"
using advanced technology that is light years ahead of ours?
And
that this universe of ours is that project, with all of us as the
subjects. Or just you. Or me...
Will
the truth set us free?
The
ideas I've outlined here are part of a collection of possibilities
that I personally deem as feasible explanations as to why we may be
living in a simulation. And the possible nature of it.
There
are many theories on this subject with many more undoubtedly yet to
emerge.
There
are also questions that may never be answered; Could the speed of
light actually be the operating speed of a universe-simulating
super-computer? That's a teaser.
Could
the universe be a simulation that's not on a computer, but of a
spiritual nature? The mind boggles. The only thing we can know for
sure is that one day, when this life is finished with us, the truth
will finally be revealed. Maybe...
The Definition of True Freedom
Living
in the unknown can provide us with an extraordinary source of freedom
and happiness.
True
freedom from limitation only manifests when one is able to thoroughly
inspect, see through, and discard the programmed descriptions or
stories about reality that constitute the known, and not just for a
moment’s respite, but continuously. This involves letting go of
clinging to provisional meanings (that are typically second hand
anyway), all fixation on conceptual identities that we take to be who
and what we are, all solidified positions, and all conditioned
filters on experience that keep us misdirected and entranced. If not,
then our life will merely amount to a manifestation of what the mind
thinks it knows – a circular game of self-confirmation, grasping at
the false security of the known, the accepted, the expected, and
always avoiding the unknown, the only “place” where real freedom
has the spaciousness to awaken and thrive.
