>[!abstract] >The simulation hypothesis proposes that what one experiences as the world is actually a simulated reality, such as a computer simulation in which humans are constructs. There has been much debate over this topic in the philosophical discourse, and regarding practical applications in computing. > >In 2003, philosopher Nick Bostrom proposed the simulation argument ([[Bostrom, 2003]]), which suggests that if a civilization becomes capable of creating conscious simulations, it could generate so many simulated beings that a randomly chosen conscious entity would almost certainly be in a simulation. The argument presents a trilemma: either such simulations are not created due to technological limitations or self-destruction; or advanced civilizations choose not to create them; or if civilizations do create them, then the number of simulations far exceeds base reality and we are therefore almost certainly living in one. This assumes that consciousness is not uniquely tied to biological brains but can arise from any system that implements the right computational structures and processes. (Wikipedia, 2025). >[!related] >- **North** (upstream): — >- **West** (similar): [[Boltzmann brain]] >- **East** (different): — >- **South** (downstream): —