A funny sort of religious realization

[jessejoe]

If I sat down at a computer, I could write a program that was a physics engine that simulates things down to the Plank distance. Now, I couldn't precisely simulate our universe, because we don't understand all the rules, but I could make something that was consistent, and workable, and sustainable

Comments

[seldomawake]

Some life may pray for deletion.

Would that be artificial intelligence, if it arose on its own inside my physics engine?

At this current point in time, I will answer with no. But your article is interesting, and I like running with things.

[jessejoe]

Would that be artificial intelligence, if it arose on its own inside my physics engine?

At this current point in time, I will answer with no. But your article is interesting, and I like running with things.

I'd have to agree with you, really. It's simply evolution in action, just as are the calculation-based lifeforms that arise within Avida (sp?). In either case, I may have created the universe, but I didn't create the creatures.

But what I wonder is, what if I did plop down working creatures into such a "simulator"? What if I copied their binary dna stuff from an earlier run, for from some FTP site somewhere?

[seldomawake]

I'm still going to say no. Because someone who I consider much smarter than myself (thanatopis) said so, and I am currently in a position where I will take his word on it.

[pigmassacre]

I'm gonna say yes it is. See JJoe's note: "Now, I couldn't precisely simulate our universe, because we don't understand all the rules ..."

Self-modifying AI is still AI until I can upload my brain, which would certainly require knowing a lot more of the "rules" than we currently know.

Although once you can truly simulate brains, the rest of your questions are answered by a very old, award-winning short story by Harlan Ellison called "I Have No Mouth But I Must Scream". You should walk to your local library (Twitch's place) and see if you can borrow a copy.

[rockmanandforte]

i do think if you did, you'd become quite the celebrity in the computer/physics world.

heh. "world".

[jessejoe]

That you would say that, belies that assertion. For years, people have been making simulations of the type I'm talking about. I'm not blazing new frontiers here, I'm posing ethical questions about my responsibility toward my charges, and proposing a whimsical fancy that the things that evolve may someday gain sentience.

Now, perhaps the sentience thing would make me a superstar, but until then, I'd be more akin to the Aveda folks, or the people who toy with Conway's Game of Life.

In fact, come to think, all I've proposed is Life with more than one universal force (Conway's Life has one, our universe seems to have four, etc).

[seldomawake]

A few questions for you:

Part 1
Would you, as author, be omniscient? As in, would you know everything, regardless of whether you were paying attention or not?

Part 2
Would your lifeforms sleep? If so, why?

Part 3You just created an entire universe. In doing so, you asked me to believe that you had a very big, very fast computer. Given this computer, I see no reason why the impetus to optimize usage (by not writing a "hell" program, and simply deleting programs) exists

[goodgoodwill]

What if the version of Hell were not a punishment program after all, but just a disused file where you stored all the life-programs that you aren't proud of? As evidence, I know I still have copies of most of my schoolwork. I'm not proud enough of it that I open it up and read it, but I don't want to delete it either.

[msbeanhead]

You could always donate it as "word" for your frat...

[rockmanandforte]

why should the bad programs continue existing? they havn't deserved the right to tax your resources, albeit a small tax. by having a hell program, the program in hell could realize you cared enough about teaching it a lesson to make a hell and put it in hell. however, if you throw the program into /dev/null, they will never experience the bitter joy of knowing you still care about them.

[goodgoodwill]

And if it suited your fancy to try to set things straight with the active programs, you could create for yourself a first-person "character" if you will, and actively participate in it as a Realtime Personal Guide, or "RPG". But don’t be surprised if your sentient programs react strangely, even violently, toward your character. You may have to save and resurrect him.

[jessejoe]

I do believe you've caught on to what I'm really trying to say, Will.

[anonymous]

Are we only programs?