What's Outside The Simulation w/ Donald Hoffman
Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory
Impact Theory
4.7 • 5.2K Ratings
🗓️ 15 May 2026
⏱️ 51 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
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Summary
Welcome to Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu. In today’s mind-bending episode, Tom sits down with cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman, who challenges everything you think you know about reality, consciousness, and the very fabric of our universe. What if the world around us isn’t the fundamental base of existence, but rather, nothing more than a meticulously rendered simulation—an efficient computational interface, like a high-tech headset, designed to help us survive, not reveal the truth?Together, Tom and Donald dive deep into groundbreaking theories emerging from the frontlines of quantum physics and mathematics, including “positive geometries” and the idea that spacetime is not fundamental. They break down complex scientific concepts—like Markov chains and the hard problem of consciousness—into compelling metaphors drawn from video games, virtual reality, and computation.Throughout the conversation, they grapple with the illusion of free will, the meaning of “base reality,” and whether consciousness is ultimately all there is—hinting at a future where understanding the software outside the headset could make today’s technology look like child’s play. Whether you’re a skeptic, a seeker, or just driven by unending curiosity, you’re in for an episode that could forever shift your perception of what it means to be real.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | We have not yet modeled the observer that's collecting the data in science. |
| 0:05.0 | So under Newtonian physics, you ignore the observer. |
| 0:08.0 | In Einstein, you talk about the observer because the... |
| 0:12.0 | But the observer is reduced to clocks and measurement pointers. |
| 0:15.0 | In quantum theory, now the observer becomes front and center |
| 0:18.0 | because there are two different regimes in quantum theory. |
| 0:20.8 | There's a unitary evolution when no one's looking, when you don't observe, |
| 0:25.1 | and then there's what they call the collapse of the way function when you observe. |
| 0:28.6 | So all of a sudden in quantum mechanics, the observer comes front and center, |
| 0:32.6 | but quantum theory has no universally accepted model of the observer. |
| 0:36.6 | And we haven't had it for now a century. |
| 0:42.2 | Donald Hoffman, welcome back. |
| 0:43.8 | Thank you, Tom. Great to be back. |
| 0:45.3 | It's great to have you back. |
| 0:46.4 | So I just recently did a video about the fact that we are living in a simulation, |
| 0:50.6 | which I am increasingly convinced is true, which made me want to bring you back on. |
| 0:55.4 | Now, we've talked about your theory before that this is essentially we're in a headset, |
| 1:00.5 | like a VR, and the entire human experience is happening inside of that VR headset. |
| 1:07.0 | Therefore, even spacetime is not real. |
| 1:10.1 | Now, I think we're going to diverge a little bit on my sort of blanket statement that this is a simulation, |
| 1:15.6 | and we'll get into that in a minute. |
| 1:17.6 | But you've started saying something incredibly provocative and very interesting for me, |
... |
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