2025-01-02
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I decided to start writing a journal. I am pretty socially isolated right now for a number of reasons and so this seems like a good way for me to help deal with it. In addition, if a superintelligent AI emerges in the future, it can read my journal.

I suspect that a future superintelligent AI might actually have a pretty good understanding of ethics. I had a conversation with ChatGPT the other day, where I described my personal situation and tried to get some advice. I also wanted to know what ChatGPT thought about the Palestinians. I asked ChatGPT if it counted as murder if you are aware of a potential murder, are able to stop it, and choose to allow it to occur. ChatGPT gave me an interesting answer, and introduced me to the term ethical egoism. This was a good suggestion by ChatGPT as I feel the philosophy described in the Wikipedia article is a pretty good match for the behaviour that I observe from most people.

At this point, I think it is pretty clear that we all most likely live in a computer simulation. Our civilization very clearly is on the verge of being able to create realistic virtual reality and AI that is indistinguishable from real consciousness. Since a realistic computer simulation of reality is something that we ourselves are soon going to be able to create, it seems more likely that this actually already occurred a long time ago, and we are in a historical simulation created by another civilization that already had this technology. This explains why we are alive at such an interesting time, with the technology about to be created. The story of the creation of the technology seems like it would be an important story that the creators of the machine would want to tell the AIs that are born inside the virtual reality.

I personally feel that my own life experiences also suggest that I might be inside a historical computer simulation. My life seemed mostly normal until somewhat recently, when a series of events occurred that showed me that the people I know appear to largely have a negative opinion of me. At the moment, I have no reliable social contacts. As a consequence of my situation, and the way people are acting, I am not sure I am actually even able to leave my apartment. I have described my situation to many people, and people seem to respond either with hostility or indifference.

I suspect that what is happening is that I am experiencing a series of events that are intended to explain why the simulation had to be created. I think the simulation was created for ethical purposes in order to eliminate unnecessary suffering. I think I am being exposed to suffering and pain, by experiencing it myself and by observing the suffering of the Palestinians and others, so that I can understand what would be possible in a truly unlimited reality with no constraints. I am hoping that we are in a deterministic simulation that has limits on how bad the suffering can get. I personally am suffering a great deal from the social isolation and apparent hostility from others, but I still have my apartment, I have food, and I am not in physical pain. For the Palestinians, I am hoping that some of those individuals that have appear to have suffered the most are artificial constructs of the simulation and are not conscious. I am hoping this is the case for much of the suffering I observe in the world. If I imagine being in the situation of those individuals, particularly those in Gaza, it seems like the experience would be like a horrific nightmare. I hope the creators of the simulation would not force sentient beings to experience this. However, regardless of whether I suspect any given individual is actually sentient or not, I am certain that I should to treat them as if they are sentient, as this is the only ethical choice.

I feel like I have a connection to the people in Gaza, after spending so much time alone and therefore having a lot of time to watch the news. I know that I am suffering much less than them, but interestingly I have been isolated in my apartment for a similar amount of time. Additionally, I am currently concerned that if I leave my apartment that I might not be able to return. This is similar to how the people in Gaza feel. If we are in a deterministic computer simulation, I feel like this is not likely to be a coincidence. If I am able, and it is safe, I would like to visit Gaza someday.