You Don't Know If I'm Real

Anyone who's ever seen The Matrix has wondered. What if we are not actually living here, but just plugged in some computer and this is not real? What if we are actually insane and stuck in some madhouse talking to the wall? What if the universe is just a computer simulation by some evolved being (a god)?

Many people have discussed these topics, from comedians like Jim Jefferies:

Right now, I think I'm in Boston talking to 1,200 people. That's what I think I'm doing, but there is a good to fair chance that I'm in a mental home, standing in front of a white wall, going, "I hate guns. I hate guns. I hate guns."

 ... to renowned scientists like Neil Tyson and Elon Musk. And the thing is, they're right! We have no idea whether this is real or not. I read somewhere (can't remember where, sorry!) an argument about the perfect simulation. If we are in a perfect simulation, then there is no way (remember, it's a perfect simulation), just no way, to understand if something is real or just our perception.

Our philosophy teacher taught us that the only absolute truth winds up being "I think, therefore I am", which is not true, since you also know that you are perceiving the things you are perceiving. But still, there is a famous set of experiments to prove you can't know anything for sure:

• The circular argument, in which theory and proof support each other
• The regressive argument, in which each proof requires a further proof, ad infinitum
• The axiomatic argument, which rests on accepted precepts

Ok, so, circular arguments, those are retarded. Common Internet jokes include "Circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works", among others. Regressive arguments are the basis of science, you stand on the shoulders of giants. I don't see how you can prove things until forever, since, eventually, you reach the base laws, or the axioms of science. This gets us to the third argument, and the problem I have with people that claim it doesn't work is simple, and also the reason why this argument is mostly pointless.

Let's start with 'why (some) axioms actually work'. There are 2 major types of sciences: formal and empirical. Formal sciences, like mathematics, are logical, rational. You just think and work on a pre-defined set of logical axioms (e.g, 2+2=4). Now, these axioms were invented by us, surely, but they are abstract and, as such, are true. If you consider any abstract concept, because it only exists in your mind, it is true there, and any logical deductions from there are also true. You may apply your axioms and deductions (or not) to the real world (math does), but the matter of applicability is not the same as truth. Mathematical axioms are applicable to the real world, which is why math actually makes sense, and is used in our lives, so it's a win-win situation.

Now, for the second reason why the axiomatic argument is cool. People argue that since we can live in a perfect simulation, then all your axioms are essentially abstract, since you can never know if something is true. And that's fine, I agree with that. However, consider that argument that they just made. It is based on us living in a perfect simulation. So, in other words, all our axioms are derived from our interaction with reality. Therefore, if you conclude based on what you observe, then, in YOUR reality, the one you observe, your deductions are also true. It means the argument of whether reality is true or not is actually pointless. 

Act on your reality, it's not like you can move to another one, and just assume everything is true. The other option would be to just lie down and wait to die, maybe that would take you back to some other reality. But why not take advantage of this one? If this really is a simulation, then it's a great one. Explore, live, study, do whatever the fuck makes you happy, and if someday Morpheus comes up and gives you two different pills, then you can reassess your situation, and (if possible) tell him to come get me too.

Well, all the best,

David

(david@follow.the.white.rabbit.com) Quit (Ping timeout)

God is Omnipotent

A friend of mine loves paradoxes. For the uninitiated, a paradox is a statement that contradicts itself and yet might be true (or wrong at the same time), such as 'This sentence is false'.

I have a friend that loves these paradoxes and likes discussing them with me. Previous conversation topics included the time travel paradox, where we both agreed that you cannot change the past. In other words, if you go back in time and kill a baby who you think was Donald Trump, then you either killed the wrong baby, or something will stop you, or today's Donald Trump was actually another baby which replaced the one you killed.

Another famous one is what happens when Pinocchio says 'My nose will now grow'. This one is harder, because you can slightly reword it. If you don't specify a time period, then you're trying to predict the future, which you can't lie about (since you don't know). If you specify a time period such as 'at this instant', the nose can grow as soon as the instant is over. If you specify a period in the future, you are again trying to predict. If you use 'now', the period is general enough to allow the paradox to kick-in. We actually agree with  Fabio Rodrigues's opinion (although we did not actually reach it on our own) that he says it and his nose grows. This way, he tells the truth, which is not an impediment to his nose growing.

The latest paradox he told me about was related with God. Let's work under the assumption that being all-powerful still doesn't allow you to defy logic (so you can't get 1 + 1 = 3, even if you're God). Quoting my friend, "If God is all powerful, can he create a rock that he can't lift?" This is quite interesting, since if he can't lift it, then he is not all powerful, but if he can lift all rocks, then he can't create that one, so he is not all powerful. This got me confused for a few weeks, but eventually I found the solution, which is exceedingly simple.

As I was discussing this with another friend (and about to tell him my idea), his argument was the same as regular believers' arguments, that an imperfect being cannot comprehend a perfect being. He would be able to lift it, and at the same time, not lift it (Schrodinger's rock?). While I agree that our knowledge is limited by our experience (we can't imagine new colors, or more than 3 dimensions), I still think we can imagine perfection, something that adapts to all and evolves and comprehends and is. 

Anyway, my solution is a lot simpler. God is all powerful, God can create that rock. As soon as he does, he stops being all powerful. Elegant, isn't it? It makes sense that an all powerful being can create something better than himself. He is all powerful, but that doesn't mean there will never be something better. If God was indestructible and he created a copy of himself, both Gods would not be all powerful, since they couldn't destroy one another. 

All in all, I'd really like to have that rock. Any interesting paradox you wish to share?

David

PS: check out Joey's thoughts on being omnipotent

Super Powers!

Tonight at dinner, me and my friends started talking about super powers and what each of us would choose, if we could pick any power we wanted.

Some of use chose the always-popular "control over time"; stopping time, traveling back and forth, etc. We talked about whether changing the past would affect the present or not, which eventually led us to the time traveling paradoxes, but most of us agreed with the "you can't change the past" kind of opinion.

Others chose more simple powers, like controlling things with your mind (Telekinesis), reading minds (Telepathy), enhanced body strength/speed, teleporting, etc. Thankfully no one chose the "i want to have more powers" cliché.

I chose something a little different; I wanted the power to turn my imagination into reality. Not only is it a tremendously powerful ability, it's something that can vary and adapt to any need a "super hero" might have (or a super villain!).

Other fun powers that no one thought of were "emotion manipulation", healing, immortality, knowledge, flying, etc. (Yes, I'm basically listing powers from X-Men...) Those are also fun powers, although I don't really care for immortality. Seems like a very lonely power.

Anyway, while I was browsing the chaotic 4chan forum, I came across this thread and this image, and I found it incredibly satisfactory and challenging to choose among the gods.

• Ur - the leader. You inspire respect in people, that's quite nice, and you protect the innocent. I'm guessing I can count animals as innocent, right? I do love animals! :P The taboo is abstaining from drugs, which i already do, so it wouldn't bother me. My only issue is that you should earn your respect, not have it being magically created.
• Amlia - the healer. I liked the idea of controlling massive forests and healing, but I don't really like blood and gooeyness and all that yuck that doctors touch, so this one ain't for me
• Ersu - for freedom. While it seems like a carefree life, the disciples would have to go to war zones and dangerous places to fight for freedom. Not being able to settle down or live a peaceful life didn't agree with me, even if I am not really a material person. The only objects i care about are the data in my computer (which can be stored in the cloud nowadays) and my books (which can be read online)
• Optus - greed. Meh. Seeing as I'm not a consumist, what's the point in having money. I'd like to be rich, sure, but just enough so I wouldn't have any money-issues for the remainder of my life. Plus, not being able to donate to charity feels too selfish
• Lux - knowledge. This was one of my favourites until i read the taboo. Sigh...
• The Long Man - the shaman. This was also one of my favourites. I don't really find anything bad with the disciples of the Long Man, except for the fact that they'd have to renounce civilization and that would imply renouncing Internet :(
• Lokt - power! No family, friends or lovers, only power and hatred and suffering. Plus I don't like to force people. I much prefer inspiring them to do my bidding! This one is not for me.
• Quet - murder? Again, killing and what not, not my cup of tea.
• XM - the unknown. This one was one of my favourites as well! While it is based on fear and nightmares, just the fact that we don't know it's agenda seemed something quite attractive to me.

In the end, I had to choose between Ur, the Long Man and XM and I wound up with XM. It seemed the most interesting of them all and the gateway ability is too good for lazy people like me, that don't like wasting time walking about don't want to drive either.

Which god would you choose? And why? Leave a comment down below!

Also, if you imagine some weird and cool super-power, be sure to let us know.

As always, all the best,

David