Existential Theories

• It for Bit ^it-for-bit
• Simulation Hypothesis
  • Dream Hypothesis
    • Butterfly Dream by Zhaugzi
      • It is one of the two foundational texts of Taoism
    • Indian Philosophy of Maya
      • Maya can refer to hidden principles, deception, or secret techniques - in other words, mystery.
      • Some philosophies consider Maya to be the hidden principles by which god makes the world
      • Advaida Vedanta school considers the world to be a manifestation of Maya, and thus illusory
  • Relation to Solipism
    • Solipism
      • Only one's mind is sure to exist, all else is an illusion
    • Brain in a vat
      • It thinks it is walking (like MGR:R's VR trained brains)
  • Modern Philosophy
    • Rene Descartes's "Evil Demon", in this 1641 book "Meditations on First Philosophy"
      • "A malevolent God or an evil demon of utmost power and cunning has employed all his energies in order to deceive me".
      • "I shall think that the sky, the air, the earth, colours, shapes, sounds and all external things are merely the delusions of dreams which he has devised to ensnare my judgement. I shall consider myself as not having hands or eyes, or flesh, or blood or senses, but as falsely believing I have those things".
    • Aztec philosophical texts that the world was a painting or book written by Teotl, the universe.
    • Nietzsche, in "Beyond Good and Evil"
      • He chastised philosophers for seeking to find the true world behind the deceptive world of appearances.
      • Why might not the world which concerns us -- be a fiction?