Philosophy Now Forum

2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Is the Universe a Simulation?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgSZA3NPpBs (2 hrs)

Panelists:

David Chalmers
Professor of philosophy, New York University

Zohreh Davoudi
Theoretical physicist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sylvester James Gates
Theoretical physicist, University of Maryland

Lisa Randall
Theoretical physicist, Harvard University

Max Tegmark
Cosmologist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Host:
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist & Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium

Can we now agree that this is mainstream science, and not just a walk on the wild side?

The Universe is a simulation, or the universe is best conceptualised as a simulation.

It doesn't really matter it is a useful conception. Computation (Lambda calculus) is a superset of physics.

And computer science offers great models for dealing with metaphysics. Plato would be proud - we've reinvented forms.