i recently saw Philosofree's Evolve or Die video. And I generally like his work and recommend it to others. Even the big picture themes of this work I agree with and generalyl enjoy. Supremisist attitudes, even ones like "humans are better then other Animals," are going to make the anthrogenic destruction of the worldas we know it much more likely. However the framing device that the universe is a simulation signifigantly undercut my ability to entertain the other points.
I find the argument that "Nothing is solid/real because atoms are probabilistic," "The double slit experiment proves that the universe is only rendering atoms for observers" and similar arguments to be the sort of high school "Mind blowing" explanations that completely ignore the fact that all the problems with "Reality" are our limited senses and instincts running afoul of actual reality. Reality isn't wrong, we are. Further the idea that the universe only exists for observers is another way to say "We're so special the univers literlay derezzes if we don't look at it." The universe is non-Euclidian, ancient beyond understanding, and we are not special within it. Theses and other facts show that our perception of the universe flawed and limited. Our perception is limited and created by our genetic heritage, but that doesn't mean this is a simulation.
Simulation theory changes nothing about our experienced reality. Whether the world is a simulation or not, getting caught in a "Crime" will send you to jail. Hurting someone, hurts them. If you don't hustle for a job or other source of money, you'll probably starve to death in the elements. There is no evidence of a Beyond the simulation. The simulation is unbreakable, you cannot take a red pill, become Neo and defeat the Agents. There are no cheat codes, and even if there were, would you want people to have them? Whether we are in a simulation or not is moot, our observed reality has rules that govern everything. Simulation Theory is a good Muse album, a fun idea for fiction, a cool philosophy 101 question, or discussion topic getting high with friends. It is not solid basis for ideology.
I find the argument that all choice is simply result of genetic and in-utero influence and cause and effect not just reductive, but socially harmful. I acknowledge that there are strong influences from both, but within the limits and influences there are choices we can make. it is important to keep the reality of choice along with the reality of genetic and in-utreo influence, because people can and do make choices that affect others. It's important for the world as a whole that we make the choices we can to come closer to the symbiosis he postulates as a better future. By accepting all achievements as mere privileges and that people don't have responsibility for their harms we creates a superstructure that expressly lets people reject self-improvement and achievement while eliminating pro-social guilt from those who have the choice of harms.
Determinism is a sophistic viewpoint that acts as a permission slip for choices that people understand are wrong,bad, or harmful. We've all seen stories where people time travel to change history. By that thought, right now is the past of the future. The change you make now change the future. Things you do are the Cause in "Cause and Effect". Doing the hard thing is often the right thing. Perhaps the concept of "You have no real choices and the choices you believe you are making are based merely on what feels right at the time" is useful for someone who's already embraced symbiosis ideology, most people are not there yet.
There is a religous concept of "Ineffable". that which is Ineffable cannot be understood by people. It's so far beyond or consciousness that we cannot perceive or model it. this is often used by proponents of a Loving God to explain why bad things happen. Simulation Theory is often presented as ineffable in that there is no reason for the simulation to exist that we can perceive or model. this isn't the "Torment Nexus" (we can imagine worse worlds) and this isn't Paradise. this isn't an exciting world for fun and pleasure and if it's determinis, we give no predictive value either. What's the purpose of the simulation? Unknowable, like the Loving God.
I agree that free will and outcomes are limited and influenced by unchangeable, preselected factors and cause and effect. But I beleive that choice has a place in the chain of history. I would describe this as a metaphor:
Life is a buffet. Being born, you enter the buffet with an amount of money that is the metaphor for your inborn privileges. Where you were born, when you were born, the wealth of your family and home area, and to some extent, your genetic and inutero predispositions., All items on the buffet are pay-as-you-go. When you are out of money, you leave (die). Different items cost different amounts, but while you can choose from the items offered, you cannot order off-menu. if something runs out, it's gone. You travel through life, eating constantly from what's available, paying constantly. You can build meals that are greater then the individual ingredients, you can spend frugally to stay longer, or lavishly. Sometimes the Food is priced so extravagantly people cannot even finish a meal, some people have buffet tables full of delicates for pennies. but you still choose. You have personal taste that starts from when you enter, but they can change during the dining experience and there is no guarantee that the food offered will be to your taste.
And expanding it out further, your choices affect other buffets and food prices. sometimes in ways you can know, usually in ways you cannot. If you eat all the Dodo eggs, then no noe who comes later can have Dodo eggs. It's not a perfect metaphor, but i find it balances choice and envrioment in a way that makes more sense.
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