Episode notes
This episode explores the fascinating and thought-provoking "Simulation Argument" proposed by philosopher Nick Bostrom. The argument suggests that at least one of the following must be true:
- Humanity is highly likely to go extinct before reaching a technologically advanced "posthuman" stage. This could occur due to various factors, such as the development of dangerous technologies like self-replicating nanobots.
- Posthuman civilizations have little to no interest in running simulations of their ancestors. This would imply a significant convergence in the values and societal structures of advanced civilizations. Perhaps they develop ethical concerns about simulating conscious beings, or perhaps their motivations and desires evolve beyond such pursuits.
- We are almost certainly livi ...
Keywords
computer sciencealgorithmsinventionHistoryRevolutiontechnology epistemologyverification, validationexperimenttheory modelPosthumanConsciousness