There is an intriguing discourse suggesting that we might be living in a simulation. The crux of this theory is that if a highly advanced civilization were to exist, it might conduct countless simulations of the universe. Consequently, it would be statistically more likely for us to inhabit one of these simulated realities rather than the “real” one.

This argument echoes the philosophical thought experiment known as “brain in a vat” proposition, popularised by thinkers such as Descartes. This proposition hypothesises that if our brain were preserved in a vat and connected to appropriate stimulus-inducing machinery, we wouldn’t be able to discern whether we were simply brains in jars or genuinely experiencing life.

However, these arguments encounter hurdles when we delve into the mysteries of our universe. For instance, the edge of the universe remains elusive to us. We still grapple with understanding the nature of the Big Bang – did the universe explode and expand from a single point or did it unfurl from all points simultaneously? If the latter is true, then we inhabit an infinite space. Traversing a certain distance in any direction in this infinite space would inevitably lead to encountering an exact replica of yourself, engaged in precisely the same actions.

Infinite iterations of you in this infinite space would blur the distinction between the “real” you and the “simulated” you, as the concept of infinity renders the count of both identical. Hence, the probability of you being one of the infinite simulations or one of the infinite “real” versions is essentially the same.

So, perhaps, instead of spiralling down these cosmic rabbit holes, it might serve us better to relax, put these mind-bending theories aside, and simply savour a comforting cup of tea.