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A review by matokah
On Computer Simulated Universes by Mark J. Solomon
5.0
I came across this book during the course of researching a concept for a series of novels I've written that, while not technically related to one another in a strict sense, have underlying themes (and recurring standalone characters). At first, I was put off by this work's price, coupled with its relative brevity of approximately 50 pages. I hardly want to pay $5 for a full-length novel (particularly of the self-published variety); $7 for what's essentially the length of a Masters thesis? Heh, no.
I bit the bullet anyhow, and I'm glad I did. Solomon has written a very concise but thorough, thought-provoking book, laying out considerations and presumptive truths for our universe having been simulated by a far more advanced civilization.
Let me be clear - this book isn't arguing whether or not it's feasible that our universe has been computer simulated; Solomon starts out with the premise that it already undeniably is. Maybe it's a stretch (then again, after reading this, I'm incredibly inclined to believe it's not, which is saying something for my generally skeptical self). By starting off with that aspect of reality already settled, however, Solomon is able to present some really interesting lines of reasoning about what then may, may not, cannot, or must be true about the world we live in, as well as the primary/original advanced civilization and other potential simulated universes in existence.
Basically, it was the perfect food for thought to help me finalize the fictional worlds I've been writing in, in anticipation of publication.
On Computer Simulated Universes is a worthwhile read even if you aren't a writer hellbent on making their stories as scientifically plausible as possible though. It brings up some great considerations, some that if you're anything like me I expect you'll want to bring up among other similarly inquisitive folks. The book is written in a way that's completely digestible for those without much solid basis in the hard sciences and, while not venturing ever into traditionally philosophical approaches, acknowledges other angles this topic could be approached and cites sources accordingly.
In sum, Solomon has written a small gem that a wide variety of audiences will appreciate -- assuming they're willing to accept his initial, immutable premise that we're all existing within a computer simulated world from the outset.
I bit the bullet anyhow, and I'm glad I did. Solomon has written a very concise but thorough, thought-provoking book, laying out considerations and presumptive truths for our universe having been simulated by a far more advanced civilization.
Let me be clear - this book isn't arguing whether or not it's feasible that our universe has been computer simulated; Solomon starts out with the premise that it already undeniably is. Maybe it's a stretch (then again, after reading this, I'm incredibly inclined to believe it's not, which is saying something for my generally skeptical self). By starting off with that aspect of reality already settled, however, Solomon is able to present some really interesting lines of reasoning about what then may, may not, cannot, or must be true about the world we live in, as well as the primary/original advanced civilization and other potential simulated universes in existence.
Basically, it was the perfect food for thought to help me finalize the fictional worlds I've been writing in, in anticipation of publication.
On Computer Simulated Universes is a worthwhile read even if you aren't a writer hellbent on making their stories as scientifically plausible as possible though. It brings up some great considerations, some that if you're anything like me I expect you'll want to bring up among other similarly inquisitive folks. The book is written in a way that's completely digestible for those without much solid basis in the hard sciences and, while not venturing ever into traditionally philosophical approaches, acknowledges other angles this topic could be approached and cites sources accordingly.
In sum, Solomon has written a small gem that a wide variety of audiences will appreciate -- assuming they're willing to accept his initial, immutable premise that we're all existing within a computer simulated world from the outset.