Validation Theory

Simulation theory has been a popular topic for debate, yet I’ve always perceived the reasoning behind it as too clean, even mythical. It suggests that some "overlord" species—whether human or otherwise or from another dimension—has created us within a computer program, leaving us to live out our existence in a simulation. Although I find the concept of living in a simulation intriguing, I often question the underlying motivation for it to exist. Perhaps this supposed simulation has a more human and mundane reason behind it.

While the theory is certainly fascinating, especially given the current state of Virtual Reality, what intrigues me most is why this simulation was created in the first place and whether there is an ultimate purpose. As I mentioned in my article "Nolanian Bias," we should be prepared to accept that the motivation behind our existence might not be as exciting or extraordinary as some want to believe. It could be as humanly-flawed as a soap opera, designed purely for the entertainment of entities from another realm. Or, and this is my personal favorite scenario: it could serve as a form of validation. To validate the existence of whoever created us and justify their qualities and imperfections.

Imagine humans—or any other species—reaching a dead end. Consider, for a moment, that all those Black Mirror episodes were correct in their predictions and the future is as dystopian as some science fiction suggests. Perhaps that species would look back on their history, reflecting on the good times we've had along the way and questioning where it all went wrong. Facing a global identity crisis, with machines having taken over most jobs, they would find themselves with little left to do.

They have refined their biological systems, mastered control over the weather, and made life remarkably predictable—all to safeguard our ongoing well-being. Over time, having everything they desire would become boring and predictable. So, they devise a plan: to recreate life, not for their entertainment—though there’s an element of that—but primarily to see if our generation of beings might find a more interesting or diverse path. Their genuine curiosity drives them to explore the outcomes of this experiment.

Funds are raised, top scientists are assembled, and with the aid of AI, they are tasked with creating a formula for life—one set of rules to govern the entire universe. They would control every dimension, moving forward or backward through time to conduct their experiments. We would, in essence, be like monkeys in a zoo, unaware of how we came to be here. The only hint we have is that we're alone—no other intelligent species exists alongside us. After all, the integrity of the experiment couldn't allow for outside interference.

While we may encounter the physical limits of the experiment—quantum mechanics being one such boundary—there is little chance of proving that we exist within one. Everything we observe is self-explanatory, as the original cause of our existence is embedded in a formula that gave rise to the Big Bang. Tracing back the origins of time and space offers intriguing clues, but nothing definitive. Escape, by its very nature, is impossible.

This hypothesis intrigues me because it acknowledges the human traits we all recognize—some noble, others less so. I believe that if we ever had the capability to conduct such an experiment, we would. Not just to learn, but primarily to validate our own existence. We might dress it up as a scientific endeavor, but at its core, it would be another way to stave off boredom. People could be quite hypocritical in that sense, eagerly seizing any opportunity to relive history from a safe distance.

This, again, is merely a thought experiment or hypothesis that I enjoy pondering from time to time. I find it especially interesting to consider the reasoning behind certain theories and the gaps that might be filled if we approached them from a different perspective. Perhaps there is no explanation at all, and we should be ready to accept that. But if one does exist, it may be just as flawed as we are.