Is it possible we are living in the Matrix?

[wulfy42]

Out perception of reality is faulty and includes information that is illogical. If the universe exists the way we perceive it then we are not in the matrix but at the same time there are so many planets out there that can support life and could have for billions of years already that somewhere a planet might exist where a matrix is being used.

If our perceptions of reality are not accurate then we might as well live in a matrix even if we don't because we have no clue what is actually going on around us. Maybe it's aliens that have evolved for millions of years that are monitoring us (perhaps we are even a school project for one of their young), maybe we are simply one possibility being played out among and infiniate number of possibilities that make up our universe (or multi-verse for that matter).

The truth is it doesn't matter if we are in the matrix. If this is real or not. All that matters is what you perceive and what you do with what you perceive. Is the matrix even a bad thing if it allowed people to live their liven in a mostly happy and safe manner? Was the life they woke up to fighting the machines better then the illusion they had in the matrix?

Which would you prefer....a happy illusion or a miserable reality?

Give me the illusion any day.

 

[hightide]

As like in the movie, no. Harvesting humans for their body warmth instead of something more efficient like bacteria is crazy, or how about moose? I imagine the processing power for their reality would be a heck of a lot less than the human world.

The real question is are we in some type of a virtual reality? Possibly, but I don't think all 6 billion of us, maybe just 10,000 or so, playing out their lives on a backdrop made to look real (think Truman Show but with AI and more Trumans), maybe this thread was made by an AI and I'm the only "real" person on it. I think thats much more moving and lonely than all 6 billion crammed into this shite hole. Unless the brain power we don't use while we "sleep" is used to run computations for an unknown force.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

Sure. The important question that comes of this is simply "But what does it matter if we are?".

 

[viranimus]

Are we living in an existence where mankinds machinery gained sentience after our constant abuse and enslavement of it, resulting in a war that the machines overpowered us in a short period of time and began using human kind as energy conductors who keep us complacent with a shared simulated reality? Not yet likely. We are still a ways off from building machines that can truly exhibit anything remotely close to being considered sentience.

If it were true, Do you think the machines would program a simulated reality to keep us docile that simulates us still enslaving and abusing their unevolved ancestors? Doesnt seem like a bright idea.

So as for the films plot, it seems rather unlikely, as well as unrealistic. Although there are always certain things one might be able to speculate to that might be able to be construed as proof. Simple things like what program doesnt have glitches? Things like people exhibiting super human strength in times of duress. People who are severely schizophrenic whos minds do not operate on what we consider to be within normal parameters, ect. But still, highly highly unlikely.

Now as for the notion are we a living simulation programed by a greater simulation, whos current recreational addiction is that of creating and manipulating simulations? Infinitely more likely than the notions of the films.

This says it all infinitely more eloquently and accurately than I could ever hope to.
[link]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation_hypothesis[/link]

Personally, I accept that it is possible for no other reason than It cannot be proven or disproven. I think the underlying theory of our entire cosmos being one simulation at least plausible enough to consider. Look at the things we cannot explain such as what occured to spark and what was the big bang?

While I do like to postulate on things with great scope and magnitude the fact is that if we truly are simply simulations in an existence so perfectly created that we lack the ability to see clearly that we are simulated, and we have no accurate means to even scratch the surface of this question, nor will we likely have it within our lifetimes, then to put too much thought into it is a wasted effort. If we are, then all we can really do is live out our lives as best we can given the parameters of our programming.

I think the notion is viable, but I tend to adopt the modified variant of this as our entire galaxy is nothing more than a single cell in a highly advanced organism. While the organism as a whole is what sustains us and gives us life, and in turn it will do what is required for its self preservation and in turn protecting us, it has no real understanding or scope of what we are, just as we have no real ability to perceive a single cell inside of us.

I could go into this more, but I would need some weed to really get into it.

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

Think about it for a second...

If we ARE living in the Matrix then; what if the movies was all just a plan to make us see such a possibility as nothing more than fiction, and the Matrix is now completely unthreatened because noone thinks it's real?

Or i could just say like Sheldon: If we were in the Matrix, the food would be better. (Yeah, cafeteria food isn't what someone wants it to be)

 

[Zealous]

It's possible. Well, not that matrix, but maybe another kind of matrix. It's also possible that all the planets, stars, asteroids, etc. are just molecules inside of a larger host. Our entire universe could be one huge "single cell" creature.
You never know.

 

[Knecht314]

Yes, it is possible that we are living in the Matrix. A Matrix is just a logical expression of related linear equations with a certain dimension: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_(mathematics)

The Universe would just be a large scale combination of all the smaller Matrices describing Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc into one, which you could elegantly call: The Matrix.

 

[HotFezz8]

*sigh* another tiring thread on existential uncertainty. not new, not funny, not thought provoking, no interesting.

OT: yes, but we're not.

 

[Infernai]

If we are in a sort of video-game/Virtual Reality...i want to have a serious chat with the creators. Namely about features being added, some changes made to the in-game universe and some all around decent patches released to fix the bugs in this freaking thing. Honestly, this worlds probably the most dull virtual world i have ever seen. Graphically Impressive yes, but VERY dull and uninspired. (Ok, i'll stop now xD)

If we are not, then...meh, reality is reality.

 

[theSovietConnection]

Are we living in an existence where mankinds machinery gained sentience after our constant abuse and enslavement of it, resulting in a war that the machines overpowered us in a short period of time and began using human kind as energy conductors who keep us complacent with a shared simulated reality? Not yet likely. We are still a ways off from building machines that can truly exhibit anything remotely close to being considered sentience.

If it were true, Do you think the machines would program a simulated reality to keep us docile that simulates us still enslaving and abusing their unevolved ancestors? Doesnt seem like a bright idea.

So as for the films plot, it seems rather unlikely, as well as unrealistic. Although there are always certain things one might be able to speculate to that might be able to be construed as proof. Simple things like what program doesnt have glitches? Things like people exhibiting super human strength in times of duress. People who are severely schizophrenic whos minds do not operate on what we consider to be within normal parameters, ect. But still, highly highly unlikely.

Now as for the notion are we a living simulation programed by a greater simulation, whos current recreational addiction is that of creating and manipulating simulations? Infinitely more likely than the notions of the films.

This says it all infinitely more eloquently and accurately than I could ever hope to.
[link]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation_hypothesis[/link]

Personally, I accept that it is possible for no other reason than It cannot be proven or disproven. I think the underlying theory of our entire cosmos being one simulation at least plausible enough to consider. Look at the things we cannot explain such as what occured to spark and what was the big bang?

While I do like to postulate on things with great scope and magnitude the fact is that if we truly are simply simulations in an existence so perfectly created that we lack the ability to see clearly that we are simulated, and we have no accurate means to even scratch the surface of this question, nor will we likely have it within our lifetimes, then to put too much thought into it is a wasted effort. If we are, then all we can really do is live out our lives as best we can given the parameters of our programming.

I think the notion is viable, but I tend to adopt the modified variant of this as our entire galaxy is nothing more than a single cell in a highly advanced organism. While the organism as a whole is what sustains us and gives us life, and in turn it will do what is required for its self preservation and in turn protecting us, it has no real understanding or scope of what we are, just as we have no real ability to perceive a single cell inside of us.

I could go into this more, but I would need some weed to really get into it.

As valid as the points brought up are, as soon as I saw simulation hypothesis, I immediately thought of this

But really, any post that makes the Far Side relevant is a good post.

 

[blankedboy]

It's roughly as likely as Harry Potter or Twilight being real.

Twilight isn't real? But I have been to Forks. I have seen the red truck. There are beware of vampire signs!

Yeah, but there aren't secretly gay sparkly vampires that walk around pretending to be sexy.

Severely unlikely.

Yeah, I'd definitely bet my life we're not in the Matrix.
It's roughly as likely as Harry Potter or Twilight being real.

Which life? The fake matrix one or the real life?

Real life, because it's the only one that exists -_-

 

[007dog900]

We are already at the verge of having self aware AIs, and that is after only 50 years of modern computers. So, yes it is entirely possible, but as long as we agree that this is reality, it IS reality to us, so it doesn't really matter.

 

[Ph33onix]

presses "~" types GIVES_ME_MONEYZ 999999999, buys a few more apartments and stuff I don't really need, notices the internet people staring...:" Naw man there is no such thing as matrix is just a lie by the terrorist, NOW TAKE THE DAMN BUG IN YOUR BELLY BUTTON !"

 

[Jeronus]

The Matrix movies wouldn't exist if we lived in the matrix. The robots wouldn't let a movie explaining everything be made.

Or it would be the perfect cover to placate the masses from ever expecting it.

Did the masses need placating? Was there some group of people who were asking questions about a machine generated reality? I highly doubt it. They would be seen as crazy just like hobos who say the exact same thing.

 

[Arachon]

We are already at the verge of having self aware AIs, and that is after only 50 years of modern computers. So, yes it is entirely possible, but as long as we agree that this is reality, it IS reality to us, so it doesn't really matter.

What are you on about? Self-aware AIs seem to lay way into the future, we can't even make computer think, no less make them sentient.

Let me put forth another theory of ridiculousness gentlemen:
The universe is... enormous, none of us can argue against that, but I think it is SO big and teeming with SO MUCH LIFE that it is possible the Matrix actually is real... Just not on Earth. (So big in fact that Star Wars could actually be a documentary, not a sci-fi film. Down to every last detail, Star Wars could be real.)

Actually no, Star Wars couldn't be real, the entire universe has to obey by the same laws of nature (physics etc.), Star Wars breaks those laws.

 

[Beryl77]

I really doubt it because if this would be the Matrix then "they" would never had let us do the Matrix movies.

 

[Soxafloppin]

I'd bet my bottom dollar were not.