Would it change your mind if you discovered that you’re living in a simulation right now?
It would probably depend on the exact nature of the evidence that would support this discovery. I allow for the possibility that some sorts of hypothetical experiences and insights that would have the result of convincing me that we live in a simulation would also have the effect of dramatically changing my intuitions about the question of personal identity. However, mere thought-experiment considerations of those I can imagine presently fail to produce any such change.
I also allow for the possibility that this is due to the limitations of my imagination and reasoning, perhaps caused by unidentified biases, and that actual exposure to some hypothetical (and presently counterfactual) evidence that I’ve already thought about could perhaps have a different effect on me than I presently expect it would.
For full disclosure, I should add that I see some deeper problems with the simulation argument that I don’t think are addressed in a satisfactory manner in the treatments of the subject I’ve seen so far, but that’s a whole different can of worms.
Well, a concrete scenario would be that the simulators calmly reveal themselves to you and demonstrate that they can break the laws of physics, for example by just wiggling the sun around in the sky, disconnecting your limbs without blood coming out or pain, making you float, etc.
That would fall under the “evidence that I’ve already thought about” mentioned above. My intuitions would undoubtedly be shaken and moved, perhaps in directions that I presently can’t even imagine. However, ultimately, I think I would be led to conclude that the whole concept of “oneself” is fundamentally incoherent, and that the inclination to hold any future entity or entities in special regard as “one’s future self” is just a subjective whim. (See also my replies to kodos96 in this thread.)
Roko:
It would probably depend on the exact nature of the evidence that would support this discovery. I allow for the possibility that some sorts of hypothetical experiences and insights that would have the result of convincing me that we live in a simulation would also have the effect of dramatically changing my intuitions about the question of personal identity. However, mere thought-experiment considerations of those I can imagine presently fail to produce any such change.
I also allow for the possibility that this is due to the limitations of my imagination and reasoning, perhaps caused by unidentified biases, and that actual exposure to some hypothetical (and presently counterfactual) evidence that I’ve already thought about could perhaps have a different effect on me than I presently expect it would.
For full disclosure, I should add that I see some deeper problems with the simulation argument that I don’t think are addressed in a satisfactory manner in the treatments of the subject I’ve seen so far, but that’s a whole different can of worms.
Well, a concrete scenario would be that the simulators calmly reveal themselves to you and demonstrate that they can break the laws of physics, for example by just wiggling the sun around in the sky, disconnecting your limbs without blood coming out or pain, making you float, etc.
That would fall under the “evidence that I’ve already thought about” mentioned above. My intuitions would undoubtedly be shaken and moved, perhaps in directions that I presently can’t even imagine. However, ultimately, I think I would be led to conclude that the whole concept of “oneself” is fundamentally incoherent, and that the inclination to hold any future entity or entities in special regard as “one’s future self” is just a subjective whim. (See also my replies to kodos96 in this thread.)
Interesting!
Seems a bit odd to me, but perhaps we should chat in more detail some time.