The Simulation Hypothesis: An MIT Computer Scientist Shows Why AI, Quantum Physics and Eastern Mystics All Agree We Are In a Video Game

by Rizwan Virk

Overview

Written by well-known Silicon Valley entrepreneur and MIT-educated computer scientist Rizwan Virk, The Simulation Hypothesis brings together disparate fields to explore one of the most daring and consequential theories of our time: The Simulation Hypothesis. Whether you are a computer scientist, a fan of science fiction like the Matrix movies, a video game enthusiast, or a spiritual seeker, The Simulation Hypothesis touches on all these areas. The Simulation Hypothesis is the idea that our physical reality, far from being a solid physical universe, is part of an increasingly sophisticated video game-like simulation, consisting of pixels with its own internal clock.In the Simulation Hypothesis, the mysteries of quantum science, the path of artificially intelligent consciousness, the evolution of VR and quantum computers, along with previously taboo subjects like consciousness and karma, are brought together into a cohesive, information-based computer science framework. Leading figures like Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking have advocated the Simulation Hypothesis. For the first time, the Simulation Hypothesis delves into all the angles that make this remarkable theory one of the most important of our time!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780983056928
Publisher:	Bayview Labs, LLC
Publication date:	04/01/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	332
Sales rank:	369,248
File size:	3 MB

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Simulation Hypothesis 10

Part I: How to Build the Matrix: The Computer Science 27

Stages 0 to 3: From Pong to MMORPGs 28

Stages 4 to 8: From Virtual Reality to Mind-Interfaces 54

Stage 9 to 10: Artificial Intelligence and Downloadable Consciousness 78

Stage 11: The Simulation Point, Ancestor Simulations and Beyond 101

Part II: How Simulation Explains Our World: The Physics 115

Observables, Conditional Rendering and the Collapse of the Probability Wave 116

Parallel Universes, Future Selves, and Video Games134

Pixels, Quanta, and the Structure of Space-Time 151

Part III: How Simulation Explains the Unexplainable: The Mystics 171

Spirits in an Illusory, Video Game-Like Dream World172

Multiple Lives & Karma As Quests in Video Games 186

Some Unexplained Areas in Religion & Science: God, Angels, NDE’s and UFOs 201

Part IV: Putting it All Together 223

Skeptics and Believers: Evidence of Computation 224

The Great Simulation and Its Implications 244

Editorial Reviews

"The Simulation Hypothesisby Riz Virk lays out both the technical aspects of computer simulation and the mystical reasons why we can take Philip K. Dick seriously when he proposed that we are living in a computer-generated reality." --Tessa B. Dick, author of Conversations with Philip K. Dick, wife of Philip K. Dick

" In this book, Riz Virk combines the mind of a scientist with the heart of a mystic, using video games to explain the virtual reality that we live in." --Dannion Brinkley, bestselling author ofSaved by the Lightand At Peace in the Light

"The Simulation Hypothesispresents a radical alternative to current models of reality. Riz Virk's book, relying his unique experience designing digital games, results in a stunning reappraisal of what it means to be human in an infinite universe." --Jacques Vallée, venture capitalist, author of Forbidden Science, former NASA and Stanford Research Institute scientist

"The Simulation Hypothesisis one of the few that could convince me that I probably live in a simulated universe. Encompassing the history of religions, philosophy, pop culture, physics and computers, Virk draws connections which show this theory is not only feasible but probably correct. If this sounds mind blowing, it is! I highly recommend this book - it expanded my mind's bandwidth!" --Diana Walsh Pasulka, Professor of Philosophy and Religion, University of North Carolina Wilmington, author of American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology

From the Publisher

2019-03-20
A writer explores the idea that life is merely a simulation in this nonfiction book.

What if the real world isn't real but just some kind of computer program? As Virk (Treasure Hunt, 2017, etc.) puts it, "The fundamental question raised by the Simulation Hypothesis is: Are we all actually characters living inside some kind of giant, massively multi-player online video game, a simulated reality that is so well rendered that we cannot distinguish it from ‘physical reality'?" Though the idea first entered the public consciousness courtesy of the blockbuster Matrix films, it is actually a topic that has interested people for far longer than video games have been around. Plato's Allegory of the Cave suggests a similar concept, as do the teachings of Buddhism and Hinduism. Jung was interested in the notion of mental projection while Philip K. Dick—who frequently imagined such situations in his fiction—firmly believed that the world was a simulation. In this book, Virk explains how the Simulation Hypothesis is not as out there as it may initially seem, outlining how computer science, humanity's understanding of physics, and mystical traditions going back thousands of years all point to the idea that the world may not be as "real" as people think it is. The author's prose is clear and accessible, laden with pop-culture references and elucidated scientific concepts. He excels, particularly, in making the notion of a simulated reality—something that many readers might brush off as a subject best left to the very high and very paranoid—feel relevant to everyone: "The goal of what we call science is to understand the nature of reality. If we are in fact inside a video game, then science becomes a matter of ‘discovering' the rules of this video game." Most readers will likely not come away convinced that they are living in the Matrix, but, particularly with his discussion of quantum mechanics, Virk proves that reality is a much trickier thing than people are usually inclined to admit. Those looking to expand their brains for a few hours should enjoy this cerebral work.

A well-crafted discussion of simulation that is unexpectedly persuasive.

Kirkus Reviews