This conversation explores the possibility that we are living in a computer simulation created by a future, more advanced, civilization. The author of the original paper, Nick Bostrom, argues that if future civilizations possess vast computing power, they might run simulations of their ancestors, and if these simulations are sufficiently detailed, the simulated beings would be indistinguishable from real humans. Therefore, it's possible that we are one of these simulated beings. He then presents several arguments based on probability and philosophical principles to support his hypothesis. The paper concludes that it's highly likely that at least one of the following is true: human civilization will likely go extinct before reaching a post-human stage, future civilizations will be highly unlikely to run ancestor simulations, or we are almost certainly living in a simulation.

This podcast, it seems, is not without a sense of irony.

Original paper: https://simulation-argument.com/simulation.pdf

Sci-Am article discussing the probability that we live in a simulation: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-we-live-in-a-simulation-chances-are-about-50-50/

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