Simulation theory is a theoretical hypothesis that proposes that what humans experience as reality is actually an advanced, hyper-realistic computer simulation, possibly overseen by a higher being. The idea is that our reality is not a reality at all, but actually, we are in some sort of extremely advanced simulation. The simulation hypothesis proposes that humans themselves are constructs, and the world is a simulated reality. The concept of simulation theory has been around for a long time, and it has ignited debates in philosophy, science, and popular culture.
The simulation hypothesis is elaborate, presuming realities nested upon realities, as well as simulated entities that can never tell that they are in a simulation. The simulation would most likely create perceptions of reality on demand rather than simulate all of reality all the time, much like a video game optimized to render only the parts of a scene visible to a player.
The simulation hypothesis has been the subject of much debate, ranging from philosophical to scientific. Some have tried to identify ways in which we can discern if we are simulated beings, while others have attempted to calculate the chance of us being virtual entities. However, the question of whether we live in a simulation or not is arguably not testable.
Even if simulation theory is ultimately disproved, it sparks crucial conversations about the nature of existence and the lines between what is real and what might be an illusion.
