Is the Universe a Simulation? | 2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate
American Museum of Natural History1 HN recommender · recommended in 1 month, 2016–2020
talk · general · evergreen · 2016–2020 on HN
The 2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate, moderated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, in which a panel of physicists and philosophers debates whether the universe is a simulation. Participants include David Chalmers, Zohreh Davoudi and James Gates.
Linked in simulation-hypothesis threads as an expert panel that takes the idea seriously, and listed among best technical talks.
Up next
6 mo on HNContainers From Scratch • Liz Rice • GOTO 2018
GOTO Conferences
6 HN recommender · 2018–2025
3 mo on HNJames Mickens on JavaScript
tablet reader
3 HN recommender · 2018–2025
7 mo on HNZig: A programming language designed for robustness, optimality, and clarity – Andrew Kelley
Recurse Center
6 HN recommender · 2018–2024
12 mo on HNDominion (2018) - full documentary [Official]
Farm Transparency Project
10 HN recommender · 2019–2024
12 mo on HNJustice: What's The Right Thing To Do? Episode 01 "THE MORAL SIDE OF MURDER"
Harvard University
11 HN recommender · 2013–2025
11 mo on HNWe Were Taught to Call Death a Blessing
CGP Grey
12 HN recommender · 2018–2025
11 mo on HNAlain de Botton: Status Anxiety
Alain de Botton
4 HN recommender · 2015–2026
11 mo on HNMusic and Life - Alan Watts
seandulac
11 HN recommender · 2010–2022
7 mo on HNThe Egg - A Short Story
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
7 HN recommender · 2020–2024
7 mo on HNThe Machinery Of Freedom: Illustrated summary
bitbutter
4 HN recommender · 2012–2020
7 mo on HNEp. 1 - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis - Introduction
John Vervaeke’s Lectern
6 HN recommender · 2019–2022
6 mo on HNToward Rational, Authentic Food Choices | Melanie Joy | TEDxMünchen
TEDx Talks
3 HN recommender · 2015–2023
3 comments from Hacker News
1. Why Do Keynote Speakers Keep Suggesting That Improving Security Is Possible? - James Mickens link 2. James Mickens on JavaScript - James Mickens link 3. Creating containers From Scratch - Liz Rice link 4. 2013 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: The Existence of Nothing - Panelists: J. Richard Gott, Jim Holt, Lawrence Krauss, Charles Seife, Eve Silverstein. Moderator: Neil deGrasse Tyson link 5. 2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Is the Universe a Simulation? - Panelists: David Chalmers, Zohreh Davoudi, James Gates, Lisa Randall, Max Tegmark Moderator: Neil deGrasse Tyson ▶ this video 6. Zig: A programming language designed for robustness, optimality, and clarity – Andrew Kelley link 7. Concurrency Is Not Parallelism - Rob Pike link
>I am extremely skeptical of people who seriously believe that this insane reality is a simulation. They usually don't know much physics, nor computer science. Some beg to differ: ▶ this video 2016 Asimov Memorial Debate: Is the Universe a Simulation? Panelists: David Chalmers Professor of philosophy, New York University Zohreh Davoudi Theoretical physicist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology James Gates Theoretical physicist, University of Maryland Lisa Randall Theoretical physicist, Harvard University Max Tegmark Cosmologist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The "Simulation Argument" by Nick Bostrom link Even if it is true, it changes nothing. Since this is the world we have to deal with and there is no indication we can influence the (supposed) simulation. If our world/universe is a simulation, it is simply too good. I also recommend to read "The Big Picture" by Sean Carrol, chapter 11 "Is It Okay to Doubt Everything?" deals with these kinds of thought experiments (including Bostrom). The 2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate was about "Is the Universe a Simulation?": ▶ this video