Uploaded January 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
#philosophy #epistemology #matrix
Imagine life's a simulation... and why it it even matter?
The 1999 film The Matrix popularised the simulation theory. The thought experiment that the world as we know it just a simulation. In reality this thought experiment was nothing new. There are countless philosophical takes on this thought experiment. From Zhuang Zhou and the butterfly dream to Rene Descartes to Hillary Putnam's brain in a vat experiment.
At its core all those examples ask the rudimentary question of whether the sensational and phenomenal experience of reality is to be trusted. The common and popular position in epistemology is that if reality is simulated, is a dream or an illusion that it is impossible to acquire any knowledge about the external reality. Instead of attempting to prove that reality is not a simulation or a dream, i will attempt to provide some arguments as to why knowledge in a simulation is still possible even if the reality in and of itself is not real.
For this purpose i will subject three video games to philosophical analysis. Those video games are Grand Theft Auto 4, Red Dead Redemption 3 and Assassin's Creed as well as present my own thought experiment and speak on modality.
Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/AleXenomorpheus
00:00 - The Matrix
02:10 - Zhuang Zhou
03:09 - Rene Descartes
07:16 - Brain in a vat
11:33 - Is life a dream?
20:20 - Why should it even matter?
21:43 - The epistemic take on knowledge
23:28 - Is knowledge in an unreal reality possible?
25:45 - The existing simulations
25:58 - Grand Theft Auto 4
31:50 - Red Dead Redemption 2
32:16 - Assassin's Creed 3
35:43 - Simulations and external reality
36:05 - The simulated knowledge thought experiment
46:39 - How is acquiring knowledge even possible?
01:01:43 - Modality and possible worlds?
01:05:52 - Universal truths
#philosophy #epistemology #matrix
Imagine life's a simulation... and why it it even matter?
The 1999 film The Matrix popularised the simulation theory. The thought experiment that the world as we know it just a simulation. In reality this thought experiment was nothing new. There are countless philosophical takes on this thought experiment. From Zhuang Zhou and the butterfly dream to Rene Descartes to Hillary Putnam's brain in a vat experiment.
At its core all those examples ask the rudimentary question of whether the sensational and phenomenal experience of reality is to be trusted. The common and popular position in epistemology is that if reality is simulated, is a dream or an illusion that it is impossible to acquire any knowledge about the external reality. Instead of attempting to prove that reality is not a simulation or a dream, i will attempt to provide some arguments as to why knowledge in a simulation is still possible even if the reality in and of itself is not real.
For this purpose i will subject three video games to philosophical analysis. Those video games are Grand Theft Auto 4, Red Dead Redemption 3 and Assassin's Creed as well as present my own thought experiment and speak on modality.
Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/AleXenomorpheus
00:00 - The Matrix
02:10 - Zhuang Zhou
03:09 - Rene Descartes
07:16 - Brain in a vat
11:33 - Is life a dream?
20:20 - Why should it even matter?
21:43 - The epistemic take on knowledge
23:28 - Is knowledge in an unreal reality possible?
25:45 - The existing simulations
25:58 - Grand Theft Auto 4
31:50 - Red Dead Redemption 2
32:16 - Assassin's Creed 3
35:43 - Simulations and external reality
36:05 - The simulated knowledge thought experiment
46:39 - How is acquiring knowledge even possible?
01:01:43 - Modality and possible worlds?
01:05:52 - Universal truths
