A number of philosophers are seriously discussing the possibility that we live in a computer simulation - and that in the near future, constructing such simulated realities will be possible, given sufficient computing power - which projections of growth in computing capability suggest will arrive sometime in the next century or two, possibly even sooner. Here is Kurzweil talking about this process.
Nick Bostrom at Oxford University's faculty of philosophy has written extensively on this subject.
My interest was piqued by this: this idea is not very far removed from the Jewish mystical idea that we are actually constructs, inhabiting the mind of G-d. G-d renews the creation in his goodness each day. In other words, our existence is contingent, not absolute - just as a computer simulation of a universe is contingent on the electrical cycles of the computer processor it runs on.
Certainly, if we can comprehend humans having the theoretical capability to be 'creators of worlds' - indeed, we were so created, according to the Torah, and we have G-d like creative abilities - then it is only a small step to faith in the Creator.
In previous ages, the statement in the Torah that we are G-d-like in our creative abilities, was taken more metaphorically, certainly the core idea that we are 'creators of worlds'. A more literal interpretation might be in order, given our theoretical capabilities - given the right computer hardware and software.
Having faith in a 'First Mover', a 'Divine Programmer' so to speak, is not so hard to conceive of, if we can imagine humans having this capability in the near future. But it goes further than this - if we are akin to a program running in the 'mind' of G-d, whatever that means, then without G-d, we would not exist, even for a femtosecond. This is not like the deist idea of G-d just being the 'Prime Mover', but more akin to the Jewish idea as G-d as sustainer of existence on a constant and ongoing basis.
Nick Bostrom at Oxford University's faculty of philosophy has written extensively on this subject.
My interest was piqued by this: this idea is not very far removed from the Jewish mystical idea that we are actually constructs, inhabiting the mind of G-d. G-d renews the creation in his goodness each day. In other words, our existence is contingent, not absolute - just as a computer simulation of a universe is contingent on the electrical cycles of the computer processor it runs on.
Certainly, if we can comprehend humans having the theoretical capability to be 'creators of worlds' - indeed, we were so created, according to the Torah, and we have G-d like creative abilities - then it is only a small step to faith in the Creator.
In previous ages, the statement in the Torah that we are G-d-like in our creative abilities, was taken more metaphorically, certainly the core idea that we are 'creators of worlds'. A more literal interpretation might be in order, given our theoretical capabilities - given the right computer hardware and software.
Having faith in a 'First Mover', a 'Divine Programmer' so to speak, is not so hard to conceive of, if we can imagine humans having this capability in the near future. But it goes further than this - if we are akin to a program running in the 'mind' of G-d, whatever that means, then without G-d, we would not exist, even for a femtosecond. This is not like the deist idea of G-d just being the 'Prime Mover', but more akin to the Jewish idea as G-d as sustainer of existence on a constant and ongoing basis.
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