What If We're Living in a Simulation?

Imagine you're inside a video game, and you don't know it, that’s simulation theory.

What is simulation theory?

Simulation theory says that maybe we are all living in a computer program, like a super-detailed video game. Just like you play games on your tablet or phone, maybe we’re playing a game inside a giant computer made by advanced aliens or future humans.

Why would someone think this?

Think about it, if you could make a perfect copy of the real world in a computer, and put people inside it, they might not know they're in a simulation. It’s like when you play Mario Kart and don’t realize you’re just a little character in a big game.

Maybe one day we’ll be able to build our own simulations, and then we’ll wonder if we are the real ones or just characters in someone else's game! Imagine you're inside a video game, and you don't know it, that’s simulation theory.

What is simulation theory?

Simulation theory says that maybe we are all living in a computer program, like a super-detailed video game. Just like you play games on your tablet or phone, maybe we’re playing a game inside a giant computer made by advanced aliens or future humans.

Why would someone think this?

Think about it, if you could make a perfect copy of the real world in a computer, and put people inside it, they might not know they're in a simulation. It’s like when you play Mario Kart and don’t realize you’re just a little character in a big game.

Maybe one day we’ll be able to build our own simulations, and then we’ll wonder if we are the real ones or just characters in someone else's game!

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. Imagine playing a video game, and not knowing you're inside it.
  2. If your brain is just receiving signals from a machine, how do you know you're real?
  3. What if all your experiences are just code running on a computer?

Ask a question

See also

Discussion

Recent activity

Nothing here yet.