11 July 2023 - artificial universe

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The argument of Decartes' demon shows that we can't prove that any particular god exists. But we might be able to show that the universe is artificial, if we can find evidence like a message in the digits of pi, or discover that the evolution of the universe can be interpreted as a computation that solves a meaningful problem. We'd better get looking. Otherwise we'll forever imagine that we're somehow special.

clue:

Carl Sagan's novel _Contact_ has a message in the digits of pi. I thought it was the only interesting idea in the book.

give me a clue so sweet and true

the Daily Whale || copyright 2023, 2024 Jay J.P. Scott <jay@satirist.org>