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Are We Lving in the Matrix? [Oxford Prof Says There's 20% Chance We're All Living in a Computer]
Wireless Flash News Service ^
| May 13, 2003
| wire report
Posted on 05/14/2003 4:13:00 PM PDT by ewing
A Philosophy Professor who teaches at Oxford says there is roughly a 20 percent chance that most humans today are really software created beings living in a virtual reality.
Dr. Nick Bostrum says there is a good chance technology can mature to the point where life like simulation programs are regularly run.
If that is the case there is no way of knowing whether right now youre currently living in real history or a simulation of the year 2003.
However, he says it is equally likely that humans will become extinct before then can develop such advanced computer simulations or lose their interest in simulations entirely.
Bostrom's arguement appears in his new book 'Taking the Red Pill: Science, Philosophy and Religion in the Matrix.'
(Excerpt) Read more at ncbuy.com ...
TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: heavydrugs; looneytune; matrix; oxford; prof; taketheredpill; tinfoil; toomuchtv
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Chelsea Clintons (and Bubbas) education dollars well spent..
1
posted on
05/14/2003 4:13:00 PM PDT
by
ewing
To: ewing
This need a paranoid-conspiracy-looney-tune alert
2
posted on
05/14/2003 4:14:26 PM PDT
by
El Conservador
("No blood for oil!"... Then don't drive, you moron!!!)
To: ewing
There's a 99.99% chance of his head being lodged in his posterior.
3
posted on
05/14/2003 4:15:08 PM PDT
by
Brett66
To: ewing
I'd say there's a 80% chance that this Oxford professor has been tripping on acid.
4
posted on
05/14/2003 4:16:33 PM PDT
by
SamAdams76
(California wine beats French wine in blind taste tests. Boycott French wine.)
To: El Conservador; mhking
This is definitely a 'hold muh beer item!'
5
posted on
05/14/2003 4:17:12 PM PDT
by
ewing
To: SamAdams76
Well, the fact is, we don't know where the hell we are, so this guy could be right.
6
posted on
05/14/2003 4:17:41 PM PDT
by
Norse
To: SamAdams76
lol! Or a 20% chance that he will have severe brain damage as a result..
7
posted on
05/14/2003 4:18:22 PM PDT
by
ewing
To: ewing
...one too many LSD trips for the professor.
8
posted on
05/14/2003 4:18:43 PM PDT
by
SamiGirl
To: SamAdams76
More like an 90% chance this Professor is being paid by the producers of THE MATRIX.
9
posted on
05/14/2003 4:18:51 PM PDT
by
Hildy
To: ewing
Well, I've done the math and statistical analysis, and I came to the conclusion that there is a 100% chance that this guy's philisophy is "way out there."
10
posted on
05/14/2003 4:18:53 PM PDT
by
Luna
(Evil will not triumph...God is at the helm)
To: ewing; All
11
posted on
05/14/2003 4:19:14 PM PDT
by
dighton
(NLC™)
To: ewing
"Pause" key = cryonics. "Ctr-Alt-Del" = reincarnation. "Page Up" = tax cuts. "Page Dn = socialism. "Insert" key = {I dare not say it.}
12
posted on
05/14/2003 4:20:46 PM PDT
by
Cedric
To: ewing
20% chance? It's worse than that. Wolfram thinks the entire universe might be reduced to 5 lines of code.
13
posted on
05/14/2003 4:20:47 PM PDT
by
RightWhale
(Post no Bills)
To: ewing
I think I need a new roll of tin foil......Where's Art Bell when you need him?
14
posted on
05/14/2003 4:21:46 PM PDT
by
blastdad51
(Proud father of an Enduring Freedom vet, and friend of a soldier lost in Afghanistan)
To: ewing
A Philosophy Professor who teaches at Oxford says there is roughly a 20 percent chance that most humans today are really software created beings living in a virtual reality. two things:
-gotta love that use of "roughly". Just in case we thought this "20 percent" might be an exact figure, I guess.
-I understand the basic Matrix hypothesis but not how he can believe that it could apply to "most humans today". How in the world could only "most" humans be "really software beings living in a virtual reality"? What about the rest of the humans, where are they? (Is he one of them?)
To: ewing
On the 0.000000000000020% chance that the sophomore needs a response.
16
posted on
05/14/2003 4:22:50 PM PDT
by
Diogenesis
(If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.)
To: ewing
Brother with the day I just had... will someone please reboot me?
To: Howlin; Ed_NYC; MonroeDNA; widgysoft; Springman; Timesink; dubyaismypresident; Grani; coug97; ...
Too much time on his hands alert!
"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....
If you want on or off this list, please let me know!
18
posted on
05/14/2003 4:23:26 PM PDT
by
mhking
To: ewing
If that is the case there is no way of knowing whether right now youre currently living in real history or a simulation of the year 2003.Impossible. If I were living in a simulation I'd be surrounded by bodacious babes that turned into 6-packs and roast beef sandwiches at midnight.
19
posted on
05/14/2003 4:23:31 PM PDT
by
randog
(It's always darkest before the dawn--a good time to steal the neighbor's newspaper...)
To: ewing
When I was five years old I already figured out that my brain could really be sitting in a fishtank somewhere with electrodes stuck in it, and I woudln't know the difference.
Could be true, you know.
In fact, sometimes I think that would explain everything.
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