Are We Living in a Simulation?

Dr Fi PhD
Aug 13
4 min read

Reality, Illusion, and the Code of the Cosmos

“The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us… It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.”— Morpheus, The Matrix (1999)

From the Vedic illusion of Maya, to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, to modern tech theorists like Elon Musk and Nick Bostrom, the idea that we may be living inside a simulation isn’t new—it’s just had an upgrade.

In this blog post, we’ll break down the simulation theory, why scientists and philosophers are taking it seriously, and what it means for your everyday life (hint: it’s not just about VR goggles).

Let’s plug in.

What Is Simulation Theory?

Simulation Theory suggests that our entire reality — the universe, Earth, even you — may be part of an advanced computer program, created by a civilization far more technologically sophisticated than our own.

We’re not talking metaphor here. This isn’t just a way of saying “life is surreal.” This is literal:That you, reading this sentence, are the conscious output of a hyper-realistic rendering system designed to be indistinguishable from “base reality.”

Sound far-fetched? So did round Earth, quantum mechanics, and the internet once.

The Modern Thinkers Behind It

Nick Bostrom: The Philosopher Who Made It Serious

In 2003, philosopher Nick Bostrom proposed a now-famous trilemma:

Either:

Civilizations never reach a level of tech where they can simulate consciousness.
Civilizations that can simulate consciousness choose not to.
We are almost certainly living in a simulation.

The logic?

If #3 is true and countless simulations could be run by a single advanced civilisation, then simulated beings would vastly outnumber real ones. Statistically, we’re probably in the matrix.

🚀 Elon Musk: The Tech Prophet

Musk backed Bostrom, saying:

“There’s a one in billions chance we’re in base reality.”

His point: 40 years ago, video games were pixel blocks. Now they’re nearly photo-realistic. Imagine where we’ll be in 100,000 years. If simulations are inevitable, ours may already be running.

Clues We Might Be Simulated

This isn’t just speculative fiction—there are patterns in physics, technology, and even psychology that give the theory some strange plausibility.

1. Quantum Weirdness

Particles change behaviour when observed.Known as the Observer Effect, it suggests reality is only “rendered” when interacted with—like in a video game, where distant scenery isn’t loaded until the player gets close.

2. Pixelated Space-Time

Some physicists suggest the universe isn’t infinitely smooth, but quantized, like a pixel grid. This hints at a finite “resolution” limit—like digital simulation constraints.

3. Mathematics at the Core

The universe runs on math. Every particle, force, and law appears code-like. Max Tegmark, physicist and author of Our Mathematical Universe, argues that math isn’t just a tool—it is the reality.

4. The Mandela Effect - we will be deep diving into this in the coming weeks

Some people remember a reality that doesn’t match current history. Was it “Berenstain Bears” or “Berenstein Bears”? Some interpret this as evidence of memory glitches in our simulation.

DNA: Code Within Code?

Think of this: DNA is literal biological programming. Four letters (A, T, G, C) form every known life form, operating through encoded instructions.

If that sounds like code, it’s because it is.

Dr. Craig Venter, who mapped the human genome, once described DNA as “software, protein as hardware, and evolution as an operating system.”

Metaphysical Parallels

Simulation theory aligns uncannily with ancient spiritual traditions.

Vedic Teachings

Maya = illusion of the material world
The true self is not the body, but the Atman, or observer behind the illusion

Gnosticism
Earth is a construct, made by the Demiurge, a false god
Real reality exists beyond the “veil”

Hermeticism

“As above, so below”—we are mirrors of higher realities
The material world is symbolic, layered, and encoded

Is it coincidence that simulation theory and ancient mysticism are arriving at the same conclusion—just using different language?

If It Is a Simulation… So What?

Here’s where things get existential.

If we’re in a simulation:

Free will may still be real — a simulated being can still choose.
Meaning doesn’t vanish — in fact, it becomes more potent.
You may be here by design — for observation, for growth, or for narrative.

The real insight is this: Whether “real” or “rendered,” your experience is genuine.Joy, love, sorrow, art — all still matter. A simulated sunset is still beautiful if it moves your soul.

Can We Escape the Simulation?

This isn't just sci-fi fantasy. Some researchers, including quantum physicists and AI theorists, propose experiments to detect simulation anomalies, such as:

Searching for cosmic rendering glitches
Detecting inconsistencies in quantum behavior
Identifying limits in particle physics that suggest “programming constraints”

If we ever could “escape” or contact the simulators, the next questions would be:

Why did they build this?

What are the rules?

Who are we to them?

Or maybe...We are them—running a simulation of our past selves.