A funny sort of religious realization
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.
I'd need a very big computer.
Once I set my program in motion, I could watch what was going on in my pet universe, everywhere at once. If I wanted, I could tinker. I could download files of universes 100 million years after a Big Bang, so I didn't have to sit around and wait for matter to coalesce. Or I could make my own. I could install galaxies and stars as I wished. I could tinker however.
Oh this'd be a big computer. Or a very slow universe.
I could place special value on life. Make special programs that wandered around my universe and sought it and pointed it out for me, and nurtured it, and guided it.
I could place special value on intelligence. Make more special programs to guide minds.
Would that be artificial intelligence, if it arose on its own inside my physics engine? What if I installed it like I installed a star?
What would prevent me from tinkering inside the minds of the things that grew in my pocket universe?
And if I liked a piece of life, what would prevent me, when it was worn out, from copying it to a different program, where all of its needs and desires would be attended to? Could I reward my program's programs?
Why would I bother to make another universe to punish things? My computer time is limited, and after all, I have an electric bill to pay. I think I'd just let them get deleted.
I guess I'm a vengeful god.
I'd need a very big computer.
Once I set my program in motion, I could watch what was going on in my pet universe, everywhere at once. If I wanted, I could tinker. I could download files of universes 100 million years after a Big Bang, so I didn't have to sit around and wait for matter to coalesce. Or I could make my own. I could install galaxies and stars as I wished. I could tinker however.
Oh this'd be a big computer. Or a very slow universe.
I could place special value on life. Make special programs that wandered around my universe and sought it and pointed it out for me, and nurtured it, and guided it.
I could place special value on intelligence. Make more special programs to guide minds.
Would that be artificial intelligence, if it arose on its own inside my physics engine? What if I installed it like I installed a star?
What would prevent me from tinkering inside the minds of the things that grew in my pocket universe?
And if I liked a piece of life, what would prevent me, when it was worn out, from copying it to a different program, where all of its needs and desires would be attended to? Could I reward my program's programs?
Why would I bother to make another universe to punish things? My computer time is limited, and after all, I have an electric bill to pay. I think I'd just let them get deleted.
I guess I'm a vengeful god.