Interesting thread. There is a lot to be said for various "simulation theories" and holographic universe ideas of different sorts.
One thing that strikes me, though, is that each generation seems to re-formulate its metaphysics based on the current trends in technology. Back when
steam power was king and the industrial revolution was underway, for example, there was a lot of talk about the "mechanistic, clockwork universe",
with metaphors and imagery drawn from the machinery that was being invented at a time. Similarly, in our own age, computer imagery is frequently used
to describe the nature of the universe, with talk of "networks", "programs," "virtual worlds," and so on. Computer-inspired metaphysics has been
popular for some decades, paralelling the rise of computer technology, but it is only recently I have started to hear gaming meaphors like the ones
in this thead -- talk of "avatars" or "RPGs", etc., perhaps highlighting the rise of gaming in recent years.
There is nothing necessarily wrong with these metaphors, but keep in mind that humans project these fleeting, ever-changing preoccupations with the
technology i]du jour onto the universe, and its easy to get trapped by their limitations.
edit on 12/10/2012 by silent thunder because: (no reason given)