Something strange happened to me a few days ago. It was something that I struggled to explain logically, other than the idea of coincidence in life. It was as satisfactory an explanation as any other, but only in that it was convenient.
Occasionally, things happen to me which make me wonder what is going on? There is a theory that explains it all, but it is somewhat controversial, and some might say unbelievable. A theory that belongs more in the world of science fiction than science fact — that we are living in a simulation.
That someone, or something is in control of everything we see and do.
And I regularly ask myself the question. ‘Are we living in a simulation?’
It does sound like science fiction, but there are scientists, philosophers, and tech billionaires who have seriously discussed the idea that our universe might actually be a simulation. Some propose that we are living in a kind of ultra-advanced computer program. It is a serious proposition.
The theory became widely known after philosopher Nick Bostrom published his “Simulation Argument” back in 2003. What he was suggesting was something surprisingly simple; it goes like this.
If life became so advanced that they were capable of creating simulated worlds that were so realistic and indistinguishable from the reality that we know, then how would we tell the difference? Each simulation would contain beings who believed they were alive and real. They in turn would create their own simulated realities. There could eventually be millions, or even billions of them.
If that happened, statistically, it might be more likely that we are inside one of those simulations rather than living in the original “base” reality.
Supporters of the theory often point to strange features of the universe. Why do the laws of physics behave so mathematically? Why does the reality that we know appear to have limits, such as the speed of light or the measurable units of space and time?
But even this blueprint throws up its questions. Why is it that the quantum universe is totally the opposite, and plays by different rules? Science is still trying to understand the rules that govern it, and whether it has any.
Some compare how simulation might work to the processing limits of a computer game. What we are living through is a programme, and sometimes, as with any computer programme, there are glitches. It is these glitches that we occasionally experience and struggle to explain.
Others remain deeply sceptical. There is currently no scientific evidence proving that we live in a simulation, and much of what is given as evidence can be explained by coincidence or false memories. Many physicists argue that the idea cannot really be tested. Critics say that simulation theory is more philosophy than science. That it is an interesting thought experiment rather than a genuine explanation of reality.
Still, it is a theory that continues to fascinate people because it touches on some of humanity’s oldest and most profound questions: What is reality? Why are we here? And how much do we really understand the universe?
Whether we live in a simulation or not, one thing is certain: it is a question that forces us to think differently about existence itself. And going back to what happened to me, it was one of those moments which I couldn’t explain, as the odds of it happening seemed so unlikely. I put it down to coincidence, but one that deserves to be written about.
So, I plan to write four stories, each of which could show a glimpse of the simulation, or as some might write, a glitch in the matrix. Alternatively, it might just be that whoever controls the simulation, decided to have some fun with me.
I start with a tale about the purchase of a new computer and a moment when the world did something strange and so unlikely, that I had to laugh.
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