Imagine waking up one day and realizing that everything around you — people, memories, the universe itself — is just code. A highly advanced simulation, created by superior intelligences or by future versions of our own species. At first glance, it might sound absurd, but the idea is gaining ground among philosophers, scientists, and computer theorists. For many of them, we are living in a simulation — and there are serious arguments supporting this possibility.
This hypothesis didn’t start with The Matrix, nor is it just a techno-futurist fantasy. It’s deeply rooted in ancient questions about the nature of reality and has become increasingly present in debates around artificial intelligence, particle physics, and computer modeling.
In this article, we explore the core of this theory: where it came from, what its main arguments are, what science has investigated so far, and why it continues to spark intense debate — from academia to internet forums.
Statue representing René Descartes in Tours, France. Source: wikimedia.
Where Did the Theory That We Are Living in a Simulation Come From?
The idea that reality could be an illusion is not new. Long before modern computing, thinkers wondered whether the world around us was real or merely a projection. In ancient China, philosopher Zhuangzi questioned whether he was a man dreaming of being a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming of being a man. In Greece, Plato imagined prisoners in a cave seeing only shadows, convinced that this was all there was.
Product may be out of stock. Informational link.
In the 17th century, René Descartes took this doubt to a radical level: “What if a malicious demon is deceiving me, making it seem like the world exists when it doesn’t?” His answer became famous: I think, therefore I am. In other words, the only certainty is our own consciousness.
Statue of René Descartes in Tours, France. Source: Wikimedia.
But it wasn’t until 2003 that the simulation theory received a modern, formal proposal. Swedish philosopher Nick Bostrom, from the University of Oxford, presented a logical argument: if an advanced civilization were capable of simulating conscious beings with perfection — and interested in doing so — the number of simulated beings would vastly outnumber real ones. Therefore, the chances that we’re living in a simulation would be extremely high.
Bostrom laid out what he called the simulation trilemma:
Civilizations tend to go extinct before reaching the technological level to simulate universes.
Even if they reach that level, they are not interested in running simulations.
Or, we are already living in a simulation.
If the third option is true, then our entire reality — from the depths of the ocean to deep space — could be happening inside a supercomputer.
What Does Science Say About It?
Physics, Code, and Clues in the Universe
Silas Beane during a presentation at the Institute of Theoretical Physics.
Despite sounding like pure fiction, the simulation hypothesis has been taken seriously by some physicists and cosmologists. Researcher Silas Beane, from the University of Bonn, suggested that we might find limits in space-time resolution, similar to pixels on a screen. He proposed an experiment to look for patterns in ultra-high-energy cosmic rays that could reveal an artificial structure behind the universe.
Other scientists point to mathematical regularities that resemble error-correcting codes — types of redundancy used in computer systems to ensure precision. Theoretical physicist James Gates Jr. found similar structures in the foundations of string theory. Coincidence or a programming signature?
James Gates Jr., theoretical physicist. Source: Wikimedia.
However, no concrete evidence has been found so far to prove the universe is a simulation. Science works with testable and falsifiable hypotheses, and many argue that this theory, for now, can neither be definitively proven nor refuted.
The Skepticism of Scientists Like Lisa Randall
Lisa Randall at the Festival della Scienza. Source: Wikimedia.
Harvard physicist Lisa Randall is one of the most critical voices. To her, the simulation idea is an elegant philosophical distraction — but an unlikely one. She argues that the universe’s complexity, quantum randomness, and the emergent behavior of physical systems make it implausible for a simulation to function so perfectly — and without visible glitches.
Furthermore, Randall questions the motivation of hypothetical simulators. Why would anyone recreate the exact history of humanity? Why with so much suffering, chaos, and imperfection?
What If It’s All Just a Game?
Pop Culture as a Mirror of the Idea
The hypothesis that we are living in a simulation became part of collective imagination thanks to pop culture. Films like The Matrix (1999), The Truman Show (1998), The Thirteenth Floor (1999), Westworld (2016–2022), and episodes of Black Mirror explore variations of this concept. In The Matrix, the protagonist discovers his entire life is a simulation created by machines. In Westworld, robots begin awakening to consciousness inside a hyper-realistic theme park.
Discover one of the most thought-provoking shows today:
Severance
These works act as philosophical levers: what if our perception of reality is being manipulated? What if consciousness can emerge artificially?
The comparison with video games is also common. Today, we can simulate 3D worlds with realistic physics, artificial intelligence, and complex interactions. If technology keeps evolving, why not imagine that future civilizations might create entire simulated universes — with conscious beings like us?
The Question That Won’t Go Away
Are We Living in a Simulation? And What If We Are?
Even if we never find a definitive answer, the question remains powerful. Not just because of scientific curiosity, but because it shakes the foundation of our certainties. If we’re living in a simulation, what changes?
In practical terms, perhaps nothing. We still feel pain, laugh, love, and carry responsibilities. The simulation, if real, doesn’t invalidate our subjective experience — it only alters the backdrop.
But from a philosophical point of view, this hypothesis forces us to look inward. What is real? What is consciousness? Who are we when no one is watching?
Whether you’re a radical skeptic or an enthusiastic believer, simulation theory is an invitation: to rethink what we call reality — and what we choose to do with it.
Explore more thought-provoking topics!
- Experiência Biosfera 2: a tentativa de criar um planeta na Terra
- Savants adquiridos: lesões que despertam talentos extraordinários
- Acidentes causados por Cloud Suck: Perigo além das nuvens
Posts Recomendados
Carregando recomendações...
