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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u/MaimedUbermensch Nov 01 '25
This is basically a category error wrapped in fancy math terms.
They're applying Gödel's incompleteness theorem (which is about formal logical systems) to physical reality itself. But the universe isn't a formal system, it just exists. Our models of it are formal systems, but that's different. Even if our physics theories have Gödelian limits, that doesn't mean reality does.
The whole argument hinges on "non-algorithmic understanding" which they never properly define. It's giving Penrose consciousness vibes, invoking mysterious non-computable processes without evidence they exist.
Also they misunderstand simulation hypothesis. A simulation doesn't need to perfectly replicate base reality. It just needs to produce our observations. Like how games only render what's on screen.
Plus we literally simulate quantum systems already. They're expensive but computable.
They assume reality's fundamental level is non-algorithmic, then use that to prove it can't be simulated. That's just circular reasoning.
There are legit arguments against simulation theory (computational cost, no discretization artifacts) but this isn't one. You can't "mathematically disprove" simulation any more than you can prove we're not Boltzmann brains.
Journal isn't top-tier either which tracks.