Shane Duncan

Megan Kelly

Fall 2019 Freshman Composition.

04 September 2019

Are we Living in a Simulated Reality?

Musk stated that “The absence of any noticeable life may be an argument in favor of us being in a simulation”(1). Believe it or not, he was not the only scientist to conjure such an idea. In the late 15th century, a brilliant scientist by the name of Rene Descartes was born March 31, 1596, and raised in La Haye. It is now known as Descartes in France. Yearning to expand his knowledge he traveled to Breda in the Netherlands. Where he soon later presented a version of the simulation hypothesis as a philosophical argument. He hoped that in doing so he would procure his audience to think critically and most likely agree with the idea that reality was a mere illusion and/or hoax, created by our brain. Years later, preceding the Rene Descartes simulation postulate. A man by the name of Hans Moravec (born November 30, 1948, in Kautzen, Austria.) Proposed that the universe we are living in is a vast simulate rather than the original version. He presented this idea to his colleagues by attesting to logic. He surmised his colleagues will think critically and come to a consensus that there is a high possibility that we are living in a simulated reality. Similarly, this paper will reveal insight into how researchers and writers establish their point of view. As well as, how they impact their audience perspective.

Are We Living in a Simulated Reality?

In the scholarly article “Are We Living In a Computer Simulation” (Preston Greene)(2019). Author Preston Greene is a philosopher and assistant professor at the University of Singapore and is cordially known for his outstanding contributions to the literary world in science. Most notably, “Future Bias and Unequal Tradeoff” and “Success-First Decision Theories” In New comb’s Problem (2018), Cambridge University Press. Edited by Arif Ahmed. Nevertheless, in “ Are We Living In a Computer Simulation” (Preston Greene)(2019), Greene refers to the ongoing disclosures made by researchers Nick Bostrom and George Smoot as empirical proof to reach a verdict. For instance, at the beginning of the article Greene states that “ the technology entrepreneur Elon Musk has said that the odds we are not simulated are “one in a billion”(32-34). Naturally, in the most persuasive literary pieces, writers attest to statistics and data analysis as a way of not only extrapolating their perspective and/or opinions but rather to sway their audience to be on his side, which is a technique known as logos. Similarly, Greene uses logos by stating “one in a billion”. He hopes that by presenting this statistic, he will procure the scientific community to think critically. This, undoubtedly, will result in the scientific congregation possibly seeing the viability of his argument. To that extent, Greene also meticulously uses ethos. In the article “ Are We Living In a Computer Simulation” (Preston Greene)(2019), Greene states that “Elon Musk has said that the odds we are not simulated are one in a billion’’. Elon Musk is an African American technology entrepreneur who founded PayPal, SpaceX in 2002 and Tesla Motors in 2003 and is currently one of Americas’ top Multimillionaires. Underhandedly, Greene is hoping that by using the statistics presented by Elon Musk as empirical evidence. The scientific community will recall the credibility of Elon Musk and most likely see the competence behind the data. Which, will undoubtedly sway his audience to believe that we are living in a simulated reality.

In the magazine “Are We Already Living in Virtual Reality” (Joshua Rothman) (March 26, 2018), writer Rotham is a well-known professor of history at the University of Alabama and director of the Frances S. Summersell Center. And is formally known for his literary works such as “Sunday Reading: A Cultural Review of The Seventies” (by Erin Overbay and Joshua Rotman)(2019), and “An Artist’s Archeology of The Mid” (by Joshua Rotman)(2019). Nevertheless, in the magazine “ Are We Already Living In Virtual Reality” by Joshua Rothman, Rothman uses the former research made by scientists and researchers as well as his personal experiences as viable evidence to support his claim that we are living in virtual reality other than the real version. For instance, in the magazine “ Are We Already Living in Virtual Reality” Rothman states that “ he tried to force the arm to move, and, somehow this shifted him out of his body so that he seemed to be floating above himself. Gazing out into the room, he was both amazed and afraid.”(6-9). Although in the literary world referring to one’s individual experiences as evidence is considered to be biased, primarily because experiences can vary among diverse individuals. Greene is subconsciously aware of this dilemma and meticulously uses his credibility to validate his evidence. Which will cause his colleagues to disallow the basis surrounding using one’s personal experiences and factor in his employment as a history professor at the University of Alabama and use it as possible groundwork, to ultimately see that not only is his experiences competent but possibly be persuaded into believing that we are living in a simulated reality. More so, Greene also relayed his claim by using genre as a way of relaying his argument. Naturally, most authors aim to cultivate a sustainable audience with maximum engagement, and to do so, they have to widen their distribution parameters, and one of the best ways to do so is by using magazines since they are inexpensive and easier to produce. Rothman was subconsciously aware of this and, uses magazines to relay his perspective on simulated reality to a high magnitude of people.

In a social media post called “Are We Living in a Simulated Universe? Here’s What Scientists Have to Say.” (Dan Falk)(2019), bestselling author Falk, is cordially known as a Canadian science journalist and local broadcaster who has undoubtedly made exemplary contributions to Globe and Mail, Toronto and New Scientist. He was equally recognized for his literary contributions to the scientific community such as “What is Behind The Rise in Flat — Earth”(Dan Falk)(2019) and “The Enigma of The Quantum”(Dan Falk)(2019) nevertheless, In the local post Dan Falk alludes to the ongoing disclosures made by a wide – array researchers as empirical proof to reach a verdict that the modern world we live in a simulated reality. For example, in the social media post-Falk states that “ Just as you can simulate anything else, you can accurately simulate the brain Bostrom says.” (63-64). Naturally, Nick Bostrom is frequently known as a Swedish philosopher at the University of Oxford and is chiefly known for his work on existential risk, the anthropic principle, and superintelligence risks. Falk subconsciously aware of Nick Bostrom’s Achievements in the academic field of modern science underhandedly alludes to Nick Bostrom’s credibility as potential groundwork to procure his esteemed colleagues to reflect critically and see the viability of the empirical evidence presented. More so, Dan Falk equally uses logos as a way of relaying his claim to the scientific community. For instance, when he promptly writes “Just as you can simulate anything else, you can simulate the brain” he is alluding to his potential audience’s cognitive ability to reflect critically which will ultimately result in his audience to naturally come to the scholarly consensus that the modern world they are living in is perchance a simulated reality. Falk also relayed his claim to his academic colleagues by carefully formulating his persuasive argument as a social media post. Naturally, social media platforms have been adequately considered to undoubtedly possess one of the most extensive fan bases, so by typically employing social media as a fluid medium to relay his argument, he is ultimately reaching and positively influencing countless thousands of people to enthusiastically support his side. Lastly, Dan Flak also transcends his claim to the scientific community by articulating his compelling argument in a tone best ascribed as speculative. For example in the initial part of the social media post, when flak states “what if everything around us — the people, the stars overhead, the ground beneath our feet, even our bodies and minds — were an elaborate illusion? What if our world were simply hyper – a realistic simulation, with all of us, mere characters in some sort of sophisticated video game”(1-5). He is not merely illustrating his curiosity. He is equally developing a call for his colleagues to think critically that will undoubtedly accentuate the curiosity of the audience.

In the published newspaper“ Is Our World a Simulation? Why Do Some Scientists Say It Is More Likely Than?”(Olivia Solon)(2016). Olivia indulges herself in prior research and empirical data properly presented by modern scientists, and academic researchers naturally bring out her claim that we might be living in a simulated reality. To that extent, she meticulously does so by articulating the tone of her article as speculative. For instance, in “ Is Our World a Simulation?” when Olivia states that“ there is a billion to one chance we are living in base reality he said”(5-6). She is using Elon Musk’s credibility and technological achievements as a factual basis to validate the empirical evidence presented. Which, in turn, will procure her established congregation to think critically and naturally come to the scholarly consensus that we are living in a simulated reality. On the other hand, she equally uses ethos and logos subconsciously by alluding to Elon Musk’s academic credibility as a factual basis to enthusiastically support her compelling argument as well as uses Elon Musk’s statistics to procure her intended audience to think critically in the long run.

In conclusion, a bewildering array of scientists and researchers utilized a broad arrangement of explanatory components such as tone, ethos, logos and pathos as well as other forms of rhetorical language to not just outline their logical point of view on is Reality a simulation?”, but instead how they typically employ them to positively impact their audience perspective. To that extent, thanks to the literary techniques employed by the authors, I have come to a coherent consensus that the modern world we are living in may very well be a simulated reality.

 

Works Cited.

Simulation, Consciousness, Existence — Hans Moravec, 1998, frc.ri.cmu.edu/~hpm/project.archive/general.articles/1998/SimConEx.98.html.

“Articles: Dan Falk.” Articles | Dan Falk, www.danfalk.ca/articles.

Falk, Dan. “Are We Living in a Simulated Universe? Here’s What Scientists Say.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 7 July 2019, www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/are-we-living-simulated-universe-here-s-what-scientists-say-ncna1026916.

Greene, Preston. “Are We Living in a Computer Simulation? Let’s Not Find Out.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 10 Aug. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/08/10/opinion/sunday/are-we-living-in-a-computer-simulation-lets-not-find-out.html.

“Magazines: How to Optimise Audience Engagement: What’s New in Publishing: Digital Publishing News.” What’s New in Publishing | Digital Publishing News, 8 Jan. 2019, whatsnewinpublishing.com/how-to-optimise-audience-engagement.

Rothman, Joshua. “Are We Already Living in Virtual Reality?” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 9 July 2019, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/02/are-we-already-living-in-virtual-reality.

Solon, Olivia. “Is Our World a Simulation? Why Some Scientists Say It’s More Likely than Not.” The Guardian, Guardian News, and Media, 11 Oct. 2016, www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/11/simulated-world-elon-musk-the-matrix.

“The Intersection of Technology, Innovation & Creativity.” Now. Powered by Northrop Grumman, now.northropgrumman.com/is-our-entire-universe-just-a-simulated-reality/.