Life, The Universe, and Everything
[T]he entire universe can be seen as a two-dimensional information structure “painted” on the cosmological horizon, such that the three dimensions we observe are only an effective description at macroscopic scales and at low energies.
- Holographic Principle
In the context of a multiverse, the function of human (or similar entity) consciousness may be the perpetuation of the multiverse itself such that we are philosophical zombies in the strictest sense: given enough storage and processing power, a simulation of our molecular and chemical energy (along with the matter/energy/time/space configuration of our universe) could predict our thoughts to a probability over time.
Don’t worry about “free will” – you won’t need it where we’re going…
Nature’s Ruthless Efficiency
What we experience as cognition could be the selection algorithm for the reproduction of multiverses – the solipsist’s sneaking suspicions of exceptionalism are not only neatly encapsulated in this possibility at humanity’s present stage of cognitive development, the solipsist consciousness could very well exist in parallel to consciousnesses processing self-similar multiverse algorithms at the many-worlds level of multiverse possibility (with the ultimate expression of the multiverse being a recursive algorithm for the production and output evaluation of self-replicating consciousness).
The production of self-aware inorganic matter/energy systems or the networking of conscious entities would represent some measure of progress towards increased efficiency given that genetic algorithm (a loan-word from biology which, in this context, applies retroactively to the function of biology as part of the information processing system) – both fields of research may seem the stuff of science fiction but, given the survival advantages which they could offer our species, don’t they also seem inevitable? (… and wouldn’t any species of conscious entities which survived long enough to shake off maladaptive memetic organisms follow that same line of reasoning?)
Following the law of conservation of energy as observed in our universe, the means by which such a multiverse operates would necessarily be extremely efficient – the multiverse system (whether consciously designed or arbitrarily selected by process of elimination) would necessarily simulate possible configurations needed to instantiate itself with enough energy left over to re-instantiate itself (or otherwise recursively decay into non-existence).
Inter-process Communication
If the highest-order function of the multiverse is replication vis-a-vis simulation under the constraint of maximum efficiency, it follows (on the same notion as the development of shared consciousness) that some form of inter-process communication would exist to minimize expenditures on inefficient algorithms.
Depending upon one’s mooring to the scientifically-confirmed hypotheses, inter-process communication could extend to the collective unconsciousness proposition offered by Jung or the similarities discovered in geographically-distant peoples by comparative mythology – though one need not consider the supernatural to find evidence.
It follows from the observed incidence of multiple scientific discovery that there exists a phenomena of “independent” research arriving at simultaneous invention and hypothesis:
When the time is ripe for certain things, they appear at different places in the manner of violets coming to light in early spring.
- Farkas Bolyai, to his son Janos, urging him to claim the invention of non-Euclidean geometry without delay
[via Wikipedia]
Progress toward the application of quantum computing (as described by David Deutsch) seems the most likely bellwether for inter-process communication between universes to lend itself toward the replication of the multiverse.
What it all might mean to you
All in all, probably not a whole lot – unless you see the potential for human development which could occur within the bounds of time and space given the understandings posited by this model.
The scientific pursuit of understanding of our universe as an end unto itself and the perpetuation of humanity (to include the foresight to avoid overpopulation and war) are, within this context, worthwhile goals – compare and contrast with local mythology.
If mankind never adopts such a model of understanding the universe it will not be because god has intervened – it will be because humanity has gone extinct.
TL;DR – If there’s any truth to it, you can arrive at similar conclusions on your own.
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