One is that we are in a simulation and our higher order universe has no conception of cause and effect.
Two is that we are the side effects of a mathematical system. (This one is harder to explain on mobile.) Consider Wolfram's rule 110. With simple inputs, the results iterated over and over again become arbitrarily complex. Perhaps complex enough to be life like? Perhaps complex enough to simulate a universe?
But consider that if you could actually simulate something complex with a mathematical system, no cause is required, in the same way that no cause is required for the empty cell to have whatever output exists when you iterate rule 110 on it 10000 times. Our universe could just be playing out some mathematical formula already set down.
Sorry, that probably makes no sense. It's a bastardized explanation of something I read on lesswrong ages ago.
One is that we are in a simulation and our higher order universe has no conception of cause and effect.
Two is that we are the side effects of a mathematical system. (This one is harder to explain on mobile.) Consider Wolfram's rule 110. With simple inputs, the results iterated over and over again become arbitrarily complex. Perhaps complex enough to be life like? Perhaps complex enough to simulate a universe?
But consider that if you could actually simulate something complex with a mathematical system, no cause is required, in the same way that no cause is required for the empty cell to have whatever output exists when you iterate rule 110 on it 10000 times. Our universe could just be playing out some mathematical formula already set down.
Sorry, that probably makes no sense. It's a bastardized explanation of something I read on lesswrong ages ago.