• Zoolander@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    There’s no hypocrisy here.

    On one hand, the belief in a god doesn’t just end there. There are beliefs in what that god does and what he has control over. So it’s completely logical to believe that there’s no god (although, as someone else pointed out, it’s also not random arrangements of atoms).

    On the other hand, simulation theory is a logical theory to rationalize the “purpose” of why we exist. It’s not a belief. The simulation doesn’t respond to prayers or requests. It’s simply conjecture or hypothesis to explain the “why” of the universe. No one who talks about simulation theory (much less who “believes” in it) pretends that the creator of the simulation is uniquely interested in them and responds to their requests and tells them how to live their life. In fact, that would go against the entire concept of simulation theory.

    Religion and religious belief have specific definitions. This feels just as dishonest as people claiming that LGBTQ ideology is a religion or that evolution is a “belief”.

    • killeronthecorner@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Of course it’s a belief. Any position held as fact in the absence of evidence is a belief, and is irrational by definition.

      It also absolutely does not provide an explanation of “purpose”. Someone else already wrote a good comment about why that is.

      • Zoolander@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Your comment added nothing to the discussion and provided no counters to what was said. What was the point of writing it?

        It’s not a belief because there’s not an absence of evidence. There’s quite a bit of evidence for it. Whether you agree that it’s compelling is another story. Also, no one “believes” in simulation theory. It’s simply a theory to explain our current understanding of the world. In the same way that no one “believes” in the theory of gravity. It’s just a possible explanation of what we observe.

        • killeronthecorner@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Except it isn’t a theory then is it? It’s a hypothesis.

          And belief in a hypothesis that has not reached the quality of scientific theory, is just that: belief.

          And it’s grossly dishonest of you to argue otherwise, so take your wordplay and nonsense somewhere else.

          • Zoolander@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            No. That’s why it’s not called “simulation hypothesis”. It’s called “simulation theory”. The hypothesis is the original, untested idea. The theory is the idea after it has been tested that fits as a valid explanation. It has been tested.

            To be fair, though, the actual idea is called “simulation hypothesis” in the real world for that reason but it’s not a hypothesis because it can’t come to a falsifiable conclusion. There’s literally no way of knowing whether we are or aren’t in a simulation.

            It’s the same idea as a god that controls everything but doesn’t intervene at all, is invisible, and unknowable. It could be true but it’s a moot point since we could never know.

            I’m not being dishonest. You are, however, being dismissive and rude.

            • killeronthecorner@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              If you find dismissal of your inability to coherently explain the concept you brought up rude, that’s your prerogative.

              You’ve said enough to demonstrate you don’t understand basic empiricism, have not done sufficient reading on the topic that - again - you brought up, and have contradicted yourself in your own comment.

              You are dishonest, and we’re pretty much done here.

              • Zoolander@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                I’m not dishonest and I haven’t said anything that suggests I’m not arguing in good faith. I’ve sufficiently explained the concept and the idea that our observations can only extend to what we’re capable of. I also don’t see where I’ve contradicted myself but I’m sure you’ll point that out instead of being nebulous and ignoring the points actually demonstrated…

      • Zoolander@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        The purpose is to observe our behavior and how we react to stimuli. And it’s not that it’s “correct”, it’s just that it requires no intervention. If it’s “real”, then it was started by an outside force and is being observed like a Petri dish amongst other simulations.

        • cheese_greater@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Do “they” ever intervene or do you think its strictly regulated, like double-blind or whatever?

          Like do you think they actually do or can pick favorites (protagonists/main characters) or is it way more sterile?

          • Zoolander@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            If it’s truly meant as a simulation, then intervening in any way would go against the purpose of the simulation.

            Just think about how we run our simulations. We give the computer parameters about the “real” world because we’re interested in the results. If our entire world is a simulation, amongst other simulations, then intervening would ruin the simulation.

    • stonedemoman@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I completely agree that’s what this basically boils down too. ST was an interesting concept I read about once and only briefly recalled twice since. Nothing more. This could be a valid criticism of individuals putting more stock into the idea but for anyone else it’s a reach.

      The belief system built around God affects me every single day of my life. I have family that are hardcore Christians that pester me about it regularly. Approximately half of the political ideologies being pushed in my country center around Christian dogma.

      Honorable mentions: Foreign and domestic terrorism threat and future wars being incited.