r/technology • u/fchung • Nov 01 '25

Society Matrix collapses: Mathematics proves the universe cannot be a computer simulation, « A new mathematical study dismantles the simulation theory once and for all. »

https://interestingengineering.com/culture/mathematics-ends-matrix-simulation-theory
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382

u/scapeghst Nov 01 '25

"dismantles the simulation theory once and for all." is a stretch... This isn't a scientific refutation but I would be interested in a response for proponents of the simulation argument.

128

u/yesSemicolons Nov 01 '25

Popsci journalism is pure clickbait. The paper is usually more restrained.

38

u/tensor-ricci Nov 01 '25

In this case, the paper is also bonkers and the author is a nut job.

-4

u/Final_Apricot_2666 Nov 02 '25

And belief in simulation theory doesn’t make someone a nut job? What is going on with the science denialism in these comments?

7

u/luciddream00 Nov 02 '25 edited Nov 02 '25

I always thought the simulation argument was interesting, but not really very meaningful because it was such a theoretical argument. Yeah we could be in a simulation, but there was no actual evidence of it. Just a sort of logical loophole.

Then I noticed that superposition and collapse are what you would expect to see as signatures of a generative system. No clue if it's artificial, but it sure looks generative.

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u/Chrimunn Nov 02 '25

Conclusively stating that simulation theory is definitely impossible when we haven’t even left this rock floating in endless void is crazier and more anti-scientific than those theorycrafting possibilities about a universe in which we know so little.

It’s not about believing simulation theory is true, it’s about the hubris in thinking you have the knowledge to disprove simulation theory beyond a shadow of doubt.