Simulated reality

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It has been suggested that Simulism be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

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Simulated reality is the proposition that reality could be simulated—perhaps by computer simulation—to a degree indistinguishable from "true" reality. It could contain conscious minds which may or may not be fully aware that they are living inside a simulation. In its strongest form, the "simulation hypothesis" claims it is entirely possible and even probable that we are living in a simulated reality.
This is quite different from the current, technologically achievable concept of virtual reality. Virtual reality is easily distinguished from the experience of "true" reality; participants are never in doubt about the nature of what they experience. Simulated reality, by contrast, would be hard or impossible to separate from "true" reality.
As documented in this article, there has been much debate over this topic, ranging from philosophical discourse to practical applications in computing.

Contents [show] 1 Types of simulation 1.1 Brain-computer interface 1.2 Virtual people 1.3 Emigration 1.4 Intermingled 2 Arguments 2.1 Nick Bostrom 2.2 Frank J. Tipler's Omega Point 2.3 Relativity of reality 2.4 Computationalism & Platonic simulation theories 2.5 Dreaming 2.6 Computability of physics 2.7 CantGoTu Environments 2.8 Computational load 2.8.1 Virtual people 2.8.2 Brain-computer interface 2.8.3 Validity of the arguments 2.9 Nested simulations 3 Scientific and technological approaches 3.1 Software bugs 3.2 Hidden messages or "Easter eggs" 3.3 Processing power 3.4 Digital physics and cellular automata 4 Other issues 4.1 Non-player characters or "bots" 4.2 Subjective time 4.3 Recursive simulations 5 Simulated reality in fiction 6 See also 6.1 Major contributing thinkers 7 Bibliography 8 References 9 External links

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