Turning Daily Life into an Adventure with the Simulation Hypothesis: 3 Ways of Thinking to Make the World a Game

Conclusion: There is a view that our world is a simulation created by an advanced civilization.

Reason: The mathematical consistency of physical laws and the unexplained mysteries of the universe are considered evidence supporting this theory.

In this article, I will introduce this grand perspective and three ways of thinking to make your daily life more interesting.

Hello, I am Bunsho.
The other day, while I was walking down the street, someone wearing the exact same clothes walked toward me, and the moment we passed each other, a crow let out a 'caw'.

It felt like a glitch in a game or something, and I found myself thinking about the impossible: 'Could it be that this world is...?'

It was a strange sensation, as if I had become the protagonist of an epic story. There is a person who is seriously exploring such outlandish ideas. The theory he proposes might shake our daily lives to their very foundations.

About the Proponent

Nick Bostrom is a Swedish philosopher and a professor at the University of Oxford. He is also the founding director of the Future of Humanity Institute, which studies the future of mankind.

Bostrom has had a strong intellectual curiosity since childhood and was fond of poetry and art, but he eventually began to think about the major risks facing humanity (such as the runaway development of AI).

In the process of his contemplation, he published a shocking paper in 2003 titled 'Are You Living in a Computer Simulation?'

His logic is as follows:

1. It is highly likely that humanity will eventually possess the technology to simulate conscious beings.

2. If it is possible, countless such simulations will be created.

3. If that is the case, the probability that we are in 'one of countless simulations' rather than the 'real universe' is extremely high.

This is what he argues.

This is not mere fantasy, but a philosophical thought experiment based on probability theory, which many intellectuals, including Elon Musk, are seriously discussing.

Why can we believe that this world is 'real'?

The conclusion is that we have only known the rules of this world since we were born.

We understand an apple falling from a tree through the rule of 'universal gravitation,' and we accept the sun rising in the east as a matter of course.

These are programs in this world called 'physical laws.' However, what if this program itself was set by someone?

Like characters in a game, we may simply be living within programmed laws, with no way to know the world outside of them.

The interesting thing about this hypothesis is that the 'sense of reality' we feel every day is the most elaborately crafted illusion.

3 Thought Experiments to Turn Daily Life into an 'Adventure'

Whether this theory is true or not is something only the programmer knows. However, adopting this perspective can instantly turn a boring daily life into a colorful adventure.

These are three ways of thinking to enjoy the concept, with the premise that there are various theories. Deja vu is a save point. First, when you feel deja vu, try thinking, 'Ah, I've been here in a previous playthrough.'

That strange feeling of 'I've seen this scene before...'—deja vu. Try interpreting this as proof that you failed in the game and are restarting from a save point.

Thinking of it that way, the next action you should take might be to make a different choice than last time. By avoiding the failed route and trying new options, new events in the game of life are unlocked. Doesn't that make you excited?

Synchronicity is the start of a quest. Next, when a coincidence occurs, think of it as 'a new quest has begun.'

The moment you think of a book you were looking for, a friend starts talking about that book. You happen to see a place name you were curious about on TV.

Interpret the 'meaningful coincidence (synchronicity)' proposed by psychologist Carl Jung as a 'revelation' or a hint for your 'next destination' from the game master.

If you go along with that coincidence, you might obtain rare items in the form of unexpected encounters or discoveries.

Worries are level-up events.

Finally, when you face difficulties or worries, treat them as 'events with experience point bonuses.' Work failures, relationship troubles, anxiety about the future. These might be trials (events) prepared for you to overcome in order to help you, the player, grow.

When you face them without running away and clear them, you level up mentally and acquire new skills or resistances. If you think of it that way, perhaps you can accept difficulties a little more positively.

Summary

The simulation hypothesis is the view that this world is an elaborate computer simulation.

By using this perspective,

1. Rethink deja vu as a save point,
2. coincidence as a quest,
3. and worries as growth events,

you can turn your daily life into an adventure.

Of course, this is just one 'theory' and a fantasy to enjoy at your own discretion. But if this world is a game, don't you think the 'winner' is the one who searches for bugs, finds hidden commands, and enjoys it to the fullest?

Since learning about this theory, I have been secretly plotting to攻略 (conquer) the game of my life even more interestingly.

Things you can do starting today

1. Take two minutes to write down one small "coincidence" that happened today.

2. Take three minutes to think about a current problem by asking, "What kind of experience points will I gain if I clear this?"

3. Take one minute before going to bed to imagine just one thing: "What if I made a different choice tomorrow?"

Thank you so much for always reading.

If you found this article interesting, please support me with a "Like" and a "Follow." It gives me the MP (Magic Points) needed to write the next adventure log!

References:
•The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/10/science/space/simulation-theory-explained.html)

•Verywell Mind (https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-synchronicity-4175434) Source •Bostrom, N. (2003). Are You Living in a Computer Simulation?. The Philosophical Quarterly. (https://www.simulation-argument.com/simulation.html)

•Scientific American, "Are We Living in a Computer Simulation?" (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-we-living-in-a-computer-simulation/)

•MIT Technology Review, "Do we live in a simulation? Chances are about 50–50" (https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/10/23/1011039/do-we-live-in-a-simulation-chances-are-about-50-50/)