Sara Imari Walker

So, you know, I put the simulation argument, intelligent design, and even sort of the current laws of physics on kind of equal footing as far as their ability to explain why the universe exists the way it does.

Because what all three theories do is they basically push explanation to the boundary, right?

um and in physics we do that by saying there was an initial state of the universe that was low entropy and the laws of physics have described what it's done ever since but you can't explain where the universe came from and in this you know in intelligent design it's like you can't you know the universe is you know designed by some being but like where did that thing come from right and in the simulation argument it's just the great programmer in the sky made us and and i think you know the nuance there is like if

If any entities like us could evolve that could build simulations, then it's far more likely that we live in a simulation.

But I think you still have to assume a physical reality that evolves the capability of building simulations.

So it seems all very circular to me.

And not explanatory.

Well, I think it's easy to throw numbers out there, though, and not have them be founded in anything.

It's super interesting also to me that a lot of the people that are proponents of the simulation argument tend to be in the tech world.

And so I think it's in their favor to think that – it's great to think that –

computers are like gods and to build this kind of mysticism around these technologies.

But if you really want an explanation for what simulations are, there has to be a continuity between the physical world and the simulation.

And you have to be able to explain how it is that computation emerged on a planet.

And simulations became possible on our planet.

And like they emerged out of something.

So I think I'm much more interested in like what is the unification of the virtual and the physical?

And like how can you think about them as similar kinds of systems than to just say the universe is a simulation, therefore I solved how why the universe exists.

Yeah, you can't have everything exist forever is part of the problem.

Yeah, I know.

I agree.