Self-Simulation Hypothesis

The self-simulation hypothesis suggests that the universe, and potentially reality itself, is a type of mental self-simulation, much like a computer program simulating the world. This theory proposes that reality exists and evolves through a form of self-reflection, essentially “talking to itself about itself”. It’s a modified version of the simulation hypothesis, implying that the physical universe is a mental self-simulation that exists as a strange loop. 

• Self-Simulation as a Loop: The self-simulation hypothesis views reality as a closed system, where the simulation’s output (the observed universe) is also the input (the simulation itself). 
• Information as the Foundation: This theory emphasizes information as a fundamental aspect of reality, defining it as “thought”. It suggests that the universe self-actualizes through a form of self-simulation using a mathematical code and a set of simulation rules. 
• Implications for Time and Quantum Mechanics: The self-simulation hypothesis can have implications for our understanding of time, suggesting an informational arrow of time. It also raises questions about ontological interpretations of quantum mechanics. 
• Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU): The CTMU, a theory of reality, is often associated with the self-simulation principle. The CTMU describes reality as a self-simulating identity operator with a universal form of consciousness and an unbreakable quantum ontology.
• Self-Organization and Emergence: The self-simulation principle offers a new paradigm for understanding how self-organization and emergence occur in the universe. 
• Observer and the Simulated World: This model suggests that observers in the self-simulation have agency but should also strive for energetic, thermodynamic flow within their own systems and the systems around them. 
• Distinction from Traditional Simulation: Unlike some traditional simulation hypotheses(Simulation Hypothesis), the self-simulation hypothesis emphasizes the idea that the simulated world and the simulator are fundamentally intertwined.