How Do You Know if You Are In The Matrix? There's A Test For That

By +Mirumir
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Grand Master

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Yes, we may all be living in the Matrix, say physicists

the_matrix.jpg

German scientists say they've found a way to tell whether or not our universe is a giant computer simulation - and that there's evidence to suggest that it is.

The basis of the idea is that, if the universe is a simulation, then it would have certain observable constraints.

The laws of physics, which appear continuous, would have to be superimposed onto a discrete three-dimensional lattice which advances in steps of time.

This lattice spacing, says Professor Silas Beane of the University of Bonn, would impose an otherwise unnecessary limit on the energy that particles can have, because nothing can exist that is smaller than the lattice itself.

And, he says, precisely such a a cut-off in the spectrum of high energy particles exists: a limit to the energy of cosmic rays known as the Greisen?Zatsepin?Kuzmin (GZK) cut-off. High energy particles interacting with the cosmic microwave background lose energy as they travel across long distances.

Continued...

Cosmic rays offer clue our universe could be a computer simulation

planetsimulation.jpg

If recent measurements of cosmic ray particles are correct, then we may have the first evidence that the universe as we know it is really a giant computer simulation.

Humans have explored the laws of our universe for many years now, and it's not uncommon to hear people talk about how amazing it is that certain fundamental values are just right for life to exist. Some people have wondered if that's because the whole universe is actually some kind of sandbox simulation, and we're merely characters in some cosmic game of The Sims. If that's true, then there should be a point where we start to bump up against the edges of the simulator, like Jim Carrey's character escaping from The Truman Show -- and now a team of physicists think that a particular measurement of some cosmic ray particles might be the first such indication of one of those edges.

Continued...

  • Phouchg, Co-ords and Big b0b
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Grand Master

Phouchg

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God is an automaton!

Now, whether, if we were ever to prove, even discover, such a matrix, it would be because we had been ultimately allowed (or expected) to do so (by "the GM") or because this matrix has malfunctioned - and if so, whether on its own nature or because of a third party - and if so, whether it's benevolent, uninterested, evil or of blue/orange mentality altogether? And will we be forcibly stopped (with a reboot, perhaps) anywhere mid-point or right before the realization of the apex?

And once we find it, it'll have to go.

Yes, I like this more than most other things :)

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FightAndLive

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If the world around us is a virtual simulation you can think of the real world in the same way as you would a video game. The definition of a boundary in a video game is a place that developers do not want the player to go, mostly because of lack of content. What happens when you no clip and continue going in the same direction? You go into a void, that could feasibly explain away the universe expanding into nothing.

Are they saying this test, if its correct, means that if you could go to the edge of the universe you couldn't walk through it? I thought we already proved that because the universe is expanding faster than the speed of light?

Grand Master

123456789A

Posted
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If the world around us is a virtual simulation you can think of the real world in the same way as you would a video game. The definition of a boundary in a video game is a place that developers do not want the player to go, mostly because of lack of content. What happens when you no clip and continue going in the same direction? You go into a void, that could feasibly explain away the universe expanding into nothing.

Are they saying this test, if its correct, means that if you could go to the edge of the universe you couldn't walk through it? I thought we already proved that because the universe is expanding faster than the speed of light?

You get to the edge and you need to buy more DLC.

Grand Master

Arceles

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Pure conjecture. You humans waist so much of your finite existence on trivial things.

Those tiny things have let the mankind into what it is now O_O

Grand Master

Nothing Here

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So that would mean when/if the world ends, it's either the result of the decay of the HDD, end of program parameters, someone tampering(hacking) the system or whoever(14yr old hacker) programmed the system is doing a reboot. Science at it's best. :huh:

Grand Master

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I've heard of theories like this, but I don't believe them myself. My problem is two factor, evolution and consciousness (or sentience, if you prefer). In essence, over billions of years, life originated and evolved to create consciousness. Simply put, I don't understand how something non-physical could spawn conscious experience.

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a1ien

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I've heard of theories like this, but I don't believe them myself. My problem is two factor, evolution and consciousness (or sentience, if you prefer). In essence, over billions of years, life originated and evolved to create consciousness. Simply put, I don't understand how something non-physical could spawn conscious experience.

This is stupid because a computer IS physical. The question intelligent people ask is not how the non-physical could spawn conscious experience, but rather how something physical can spawn it. What exactly is the non-physical anyways?

I just want to remark that, one thing this paper is reminding us, is that THERE COULD be a god. Because if the universe was a simulation, there could be intelligences who made it, and to us they would effectively be gods. Heck, they could send our digital 'souls' to heaven and hell when we died, if they wanted to do that.

Grand Master

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This is stupid because a computer IS physical. The question intelligent people ask is not how the non-physical could spawn conscious experience, but rather how something physical can spawn it. What exactly is the non-physical anyways?

The non-physical is the simulation, i.e. The Matrix. There are ways to end conscious experience through medical drugs, but the person will regain consciousness as the drugs effect wears off. If the drugs are merely part of the simulation, how does it make sense that they can temporarily take away conscious experience?

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FightAndLive

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The non-physical is the simulation, i.e. The Matrix. There are ways to end conscious experience through medical drugs, but the person will regain consciousness as the drugs effect wears off. If the drugs are merely part of the simulation, how does it make sense that they can temporarily take away conscious experience?

The person's "thinking" aka "per-frame" function pointer gets changed to a different thinking aka "per-frame" function?

Grand Master

Original Poster

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I've heard of theories like this, but I don't believe them myself. My problem is two factor, evolution and consciousness (or sentience, if you prefer). In essence, over billions of years, life originated and evolved to create consciousness. Simply put, I don't understand how something non-physical could spawn conscious experience.

you make an interesting point but consciousness is simply the ability to understand current situation and store memories along with free will ... free will is what I would describe conciousness and whether or not we are in a digital or physical world those elements remain the same.... everything with experience is electrical impulses get the right frequency jolted into the brain and you could smell a dinosaurs fart (note dinosaurs being extinct ;D )

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