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Mander@lemmy.world 4 days agoExcept this notion has actually existed since 500 BCE and been repeatedly referenced through mankind’s history. The simulation is synonymous with the concept of the Maya in the Upanishads, part of the sacred texts of Hinduism. This concept of reality being an illusion is also referenced in Buddhism, and in ancient Greece in Plato’s allegory of the cave. Jacobo Grinberg also referenced it in his work and Syntergic theory, which predates Bostrom’s simulation hypothesis.
Rhyfel@lemmy.world 4 days ago
The word simulation is not synonymous with illusion. Saying that the illusion in the Upanishads or Hinduism is the same as a simulation is a fundamental misunderstanding of what those texts were trying to convey about the nature of reality. And in Buddhism the “illusion” isn’t actually an illusion, it’s the falsehood of your own perception. These concepts sound similar on the surface but an actual study of any of these religions will reveal that they are not describing a simulation at all. As for Plato’s allegory, it is similar to the Buddhist concept, it’s most simple form being that you cannot trust your senses without the proper proof and reasoning to back them up. Plato was stressing the importance of a scientific and concrete understanding of the world instead of blind faith in what you see.
And just as you see from reading all of these, the reality of these simulation theories is that they rely on translations and falsehoods of ancient texts without the true context behind them. In Hinduism, reality is presented as an illusion because we are all part of the greatest God made to experience itself, and there really is no difference between us and any other substance. In buddhism the illusion is the falsehoods you’ve built up in your mind about the understanding of yourself and everything around you, meant to encourage self regulation and reflection so that you are not consumed by those falsehoods, and in Plato’s work it is a warning about existing outside of the pursuit of true scientific knowledge and measurement. Your theory dismisses all of these deeper readings in favor of trying to tie concepts together that could be misrepresented as the matrix.
Mander@lemmy.world 4 days ago
I meant synonymous in the context of this hypothesis, as of course they are not completely the same. The point being made here is that throughout history there have been individuals who have pointed out that our perception is extremely limited and should not be relied on completely, particularly when it comes to the understanding of our existence. This is what is consistent through the Upanishads, Buddhism, Plato’s allegory, etc. People get so stuck in reality they live in that they refute the notion that anything could exist beyond it. My hypothesis does not state that this is a simulation, only that there is logical evidence that supports that. What it does state is that the forbidden equation reveals a critical flaw with the logic that this reality throws upon us, indicating that there is a dimension outside of it in which consciousness would persist, and thereby aligning with the above concepts.
Really surprised by this site. New here and was interested to try it out. All my replies have been respectful and tailored towards encouraging an open discussion, yet these responses have been overwhelming negative and I’ve been downvoted like crazy. Besides one or two responses the majority have been very standoffish and close-minded, and in a sub community labelled Shower Thoughts no less!