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Philosophy Bites

Nick Bostrom on the Simulation Argument

Philosophy Bites

Nigel Warburton

Education, Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.62K Ratings

🗓️ 14 August 2011

⏱️ 15 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Could you be part of a computer simulation of reality? Sounds unlikely, doesn't it. But Nick Bostrom might make you think again about this. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he discusses the Simulation Argument. Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is made in philosophy bites with me David Edmonds and me Nigel Warberton.

0:07.0

Philosophy bites is available at W.

0:08.6

Philosophy bites.com. Philosophy bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy.

0:16.2

You think you're real, right?

0:17.9

Well you may not be, at least not in the way you suppose.

0:21.1

It's possible that you're in a computer simulation.

0:24.0

Okay, bear with me.

0:25.0

Suppose sophisticated cultures like ours don't all die out.

0:28.0

Suppose we become ever more technically advanced.

0:31.0

Suppose, as Nick Bostrom of the Future of Humanity Institute at

0:34.6

Oxford puts it, we reach technical maturity. Then we might have the power to

0:39.3

make simulations of our ancestors and making such simulations may be interesting and fun. We may make

0:45.2

zillions of simulations and you may be one of them. Philosophy Bites spoke either to the

0:50.2

real or to the simulated Nick Bostram. Or at least we thought we did.

0:54.0

Nick Bostram, welcome to Philosophy Bites.

0:57.0

Good to be here.

0:58.0

We're going to talk about the simulation argument.

1:01.0

Now that

1:02.7

What might be called the simulation hypothesis? What is that? The simulation hypothesis is the hypothesis that we are living in a computer simulation created by some advanced civilization.

1:15.0

That's a bit disconcerting. Most of us don't believe that we're part of a giant

1:20.6

computer game. Why on earth would anybody want to believe that?

1:24.8

Well I don't believe it either and the simulation argument doesn't purport to show it,

...

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