a_gramsci comments on Query the LessWrong Hivemind - Less Wrong

18 Post author: D_Malik 08 November 2011 09:37AM

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Comment author: NancyLebovitz 08 November 2011 09:03:13PM 3 points [-]

You seem to be assuming that we'd be simulated by a universe which is physically like our own.

Our simulations, at least, are of much simpler scenarios than what we're living in.

I'm not sure what properties a universe would need to have to make simulating our universe relatively cheap and easy. I'm guessing at smaller and faster fundamental particles.

Comment author: a_gramsci 08 November 2011 09:33:46PM -1 points [-]

You're right, that was one of the erroneous assumptions I made. The problem with that is that there are an infinite number of permutations of possible universes. Even if only a small fraction of them are habitable, and a small fraction of those are conducive to intelligent life, we still have the multiplying by infinity issue. I don't know how valid using infinity in an equation is though, because when there are two infinities it breaks down. For example, if they're are an infinite amount of dogs in New York, and 10% of dogs are terriers, technically the probability of the next dog you see being a terrier is equal to that of any other dog. That again simply doesn't make sense to me