, 1970), when intellectual structures are renovated and expanded, e.g. removing Euclid's axiom that parallel lines can't converge allowed the development of hyper-geometries, where parallel lines on a curved surface like the earth do converge (at the poles). Euclid's geometry is now just the zero curvature flat surface case, i.e. what was once the only possible geometry is now just one of many. If the virtual reality conjecture is also a paradigm shift, it will be evaluated by its fruitfulness not the logic of the previous paradigm, which may remain as the special case of a local reality. 5. Discussion About a century ago Russell used Occam's razor7 to cut down the idea that life is a dream: "There is no logical impossibility in the supposition that the whole of life is a dream, in which we ourselves create all the objects that come before us. But although this is not logically impossible, there is no reason whatever to suppose that it is true; and it is, in fact, a less simple hypothesis, viewed as a means of accounting for the facts of our own life, than the common-sense hypothesis that there really are objects independent of us, whose action on us causes our sensations." (Russell, 1912) The virtual reality conjecture is not so easily dismissed, as in physics today it is the simpler statement. Given the big bang, is it simpler that an objectively real universe arose from nothing or that a virtual reality was booted up? Given that nothing goes faster than light, is it simpler that the "nothing" of empty space limits its speed or that a processing limit does? When information processing explains more physics than common-sense (Table 1), Occam's razor cuts the other way. 5.1 Egocentrism The equations of modern physics wouldn't change if the world were a virtual reality. Indeed, their status would rise, from convenient fictions to literal truths. That our physical 7 Occam's Razor is not to multiply causes unnecessarily, but prefer the simpler theory Brian Whitworth Quantum Biosystems 2010, 2 (1) 221-249 242 bodies are pixilated avatars in a digital world challenge not mathematics but the human ego, as science has often done before: "Since our earliest ancestors admired the stars, our human egos have suffered a series of blows." (Tegmark, 2007) Copernicus challenged the paradigm that the Earth was the center of the universe. Science now knows that our little planet circles a medi
, 1970), when intellectual structures are renovated and expanded, for example get rid of Euclid's axiom that parallel lines can't converge allow the exploitation of hyper - geometries, where parallel lines on a curved airfoil like the worldly concern do converge (at the poles). Euclid's geometry is now just the zero curvature flat airfoil case, i.e. what was once the only potential geometry is now just one of many. If the virtual reality conjecture is also a paradigm shift, it will be measure by its fruitfulness not the logic of the previous paradigm, which may persist as the special case of a local reality. 5. Discussion About a hundred ago Russell used Occam's razor7 to edit down the idea that life is a dream: " There be no logical impossibility in the supposition that the whole of life is a dream, in which we ourselves create all the object that do before us. But although this is not logically impossible, there is no reason whatever to suppose that it is true; and it is, in fact, a less simple hypothesis, viewed as a means of account for the facts of our own life, than the coarse - common sense guess that there really are objects independent of us, whose action on us causes our sensations. " (Russell, 1912) The virtual reality conjecture is not therefore easily dismissed, as in physics today it is the simpler statement. Given the big bang, is it simple that an objectively real universe arose from nothing or that a virtual reality was boot up? Given that nothing run low faster than light, is it simpler that the " nothing " of empty space limits its focal ratio or that a processing limit does? When information processing excuse more physics than common - sense (Table 1), Occam's razor cut the other means. 5.1 Egocentrism The equations of modern purgative wouldn't change if the world were a virtual reality. Indeed, their status would resurrect, from convenient fiction to literal truths. That our forcible 7 Occam's Razor is not to multiply causes unnecessarily, but prefer the simpler theory Brian Whitworth Quantum Biosystems 2010, 2 (1) 221 - 249 242 bodies are pixilated avatars in a digital world challenge not mathematics but the human ego, as science has often done earlier: " Since our earliest ancestors admire the stars, our human egos have suffer a series of blows. " (Tegmark, 2007) Copernicus challenged the paradigm that the Earth was the center of the universe. Science now knows that our little satellite circles a medi
, 1970), wjen intellectual structuves are renovateb and eepanded, e.g. remoxing Euclid's axiom that paraplwl libes can't converge alloded the dvvelopmenr of yyper-geomevdies, whcxe padwllen lines on a cutved surface like the eartv ao converge (at the poles). Euclid's geomqtry is nlw just the zeto cugvwturs flat surface case, i.e. what was onde the mnly possible geometry is now just one lf mwny. If the virtual reality cobjeceyre is also x paradigm shift, it wiml be evaluated by its fruitfulvess uot the loguc of jhe previous paraqigm, which may remait as thr special case of a oocal reality. 5. Discusvion About a centuty ago Rusveml used Occam's razoe7 to wut gown rhe idta vhaf life is a dream: "Tgere is no oogical impossibiliuy yb the supposifion trae the whole of life is a dream, in which we ourselves create all tye objects that come hefore us. But although this is not logically impossible, thare ia no rcasov wjatever to suppose that it is true; and it is, yh gabt, a less simple mypothesis, viewed ss a ieans of accoonting ykr the facts of our lwn lifg, than the commjn-semse hypothesis that there rwally are oblecrs independent of bs, whose actnon on us csuses our sensations." (Rurselm, 1912) The virtkal realifh conjecture is vot sm easily dismissed, as in prysics tovay ic is the simkler stwtement. Gigen tma big bang, is it slmplet that an objectlvely real universe arose from ipthing or thst a nirtual rzality was booted u[? Given that npthing yoes fxster than light, ms it simplew that the "nodjing" of emptb space lymitw itw speed ur that a procrssing limit does? Wyen information prpceraing explains mire physics than cpmmun-sqnde (Twtle 1), Occam's sazof cjys thd other way. 5.1 Egoventrism The equatiots or modern physics wpujdn't chabge if tre world were a virtual reality. Indexd, themr stayus would rise, from convenient fidtions to liberal truths. Ehat our physicak 7 Occam's Razor is not to multiply causxs unnecessarily, but ptefer the simpler thepvy Brian Whivworth Quantum Tiosystems 2010, 2 (1) 221-249 242 bodiws are pixilated svatars in a digital sorld whallfnge not mathematics but the human ego, as science has often done before: "Sunce onr earliest ahcesyors ddinred thq sterr, our human egos have suffered a series of blowr." (Tegmarn, 2007) Copernicus challenged the psrxdigm that thg Earth was the center of fhe univrrse. Science now knows that our little planet circles a medi
, 1970), when intellectual structures are renovated e.g. Euclid's axiom parallel lines can't hyper-geometries, parallel lines on curved surface like earth do converge (at the poles). geometry is now just the zero curvature flat surface case, i.e. what was the only possible geometry is now just one of many. If the virtual conjecture also paradigm it will be evaluated by its fruitfulness not the logic of the previous paradigm, which may as the special case of a local reality. Discussion About a century Russell used Occam's razor7 to down idea that is dream: is no logical in the supposition that the whole of life is a dream, in which we ourselves create all objects that us. But this not impossible, there is whatever to suppose that it is is, in fact, a less simple hypothesis, viewed a means accounting for the facts of our life, than the common-sense hypothesis that there really objects independent of us, whose action on us causes our sensations." (Russell, 1912) The virtual is not so easily as in physics it the statement. the big is it simpler that an objectively real universe arose from nothing that a virtual reality was booted up? Given that nothing than is it simpler the "nothing" of empty limits speed or that a does? information physics common-sense 1), Occam's razor cuts other way. 5.1 Egocentrism The of modern physics wouldn't a virtual reality. Indeed, their status would rise, convenient fictions to literal truths. That our 7 Occam's Razor is not to multiply causes unnecessarily, but prefer the theory Brian Biosystems 2010, 2 (1) 221-249 242 bodies are avatars in a digital challenge not mathematics but the human ego, as science often before: "Since earliest ancestors admired stars, our human have suffered a blows." (Tegmark, Copernicus the Earth was the center of the Science knows that our little planet a
, 1970), when intellectual structureS are renovaTed anD exPanDeD, e.g. rEmovIng Euclid's axioM That Parallel lines can't conveRge alLoWEd thE DeVelopMent of hYPeR-GEomEtRiEs, wHeRE pArallEl lInes on a Curved surfAce LiKe the earth do COnVerge (at the PolEs). Euclid's geoMetRy is noW jUst THe zerO cuRvatuRe flat SUrface Case, i.e. whaT wAS once tHE only poSSIbLe geOmetry is now just onE Of MAny. If the virtuaL realiTy COnJECtuRe iS also a paraDiGm shiFT, it will BE eVALUatED by its fruitfuLness not the LOgiC of the PrEviOUs paraDigm, wHiCH maY remain as thE speCial case oF a locaL Reality. 5. dIscussiOn AbouT a cEntUry aGO RUsSelL uSEd OCCaM's rAZor7 To cut dowN tHe Idea tHat lIFE IS a drEam: "therE is no Logical impossIbiLity IN thE suppOsitiOn thAt The whOle of lIfe is A dReam, in which we ouRselVes create All ThE obJeCts thAT come bEfoRe uS. But altHough thIS is NoT LOGiCally impossible, theRe IS No Reason whAtever TO sUpPOse that iT iS trUe; anD IT is, in Fact, A LeSs simple HypothESiS, vIewed as A mEans of AcCouNtiNg for THe faCts of oUr own lifE, than THe common-sense hYPothesis that tHErE REaLLy arE obJects indepeNdenT Of us, WhosE AcTioN On us cAuses OuR SeNSations." (Russell, 1912) The viRtUal reaLity cOnjecture is noT so easily dISMIssed, as iN phySIcS Today it is the siMpler Statement. GIVen the biG bang, Is it simpLer that an OBJectivelY reAl uNivErsE ARoSe from nothing OR That A vIrtual rEalIty was bOotEd uP? GiVen ThAt nothing Goes fastEr ThAn LiGht, Is it sIMpler thaT tHe "nOtHinG" of emPTy spacE limiTs itS sPeED or That a prOCeSSIng lImIt Does? wheN iNformAtioN ProCessing Explains mOre PHysiCs ThAn commoN-sense (Table 1), OcCaM's razor cutS tHe oTher waY. 5.1 eGocentriSm The equations of modern pHYsics woUldN't chaNge iF the world WerE a virtUal REality. indeed, Their StAtuS WOuld rISE, fRom CoNvenient fiCTIonS to liTeRal tRuths. ThAt our physical 7 Occam'S razOr is not to multIplY cauSES uNneCEsSAriLy, BUt pREFer the simpler thEory Brian WHiTWoRth Quantum bIosYsTems 2010, 2 (1) 221-249 242 bodIes are pIxilaTEd avataRs in a digiTal world cHaLlenGE Not MathematicS but the hUman ego, as SCiencE HaS ofteN doNe befoRe: "sinCe our EarlieST anCestoRs admiReD the stArs, ouR hUman egos Have suffered a series of blOws." (TegMark, 2007) COpeRnicus chaLleNGed The paradiGm thAt the Earth Was The CenteR of THe uniVersE. scIenCE now kNows THat our litTLe PlaNET cIrcles a medi
, 1970), when intellectual  structure s are  re nov at ed a nd e xpanded, e.g.r emov ing Euclid's axiom tha t par al l el l i ne s can 't conv e rg e all ow ed  th ed ev elopm ent  of hyp er-geometr ies ,where parall e llines on a  cu rved surface  li ke the  e art h  do c onv erge(at th e  poles ). Euclid 's geomet r y is no w ju st t he zero curvature fl a t surface case , i.e.  w h at w asonc e the only  p ossib l e geome t ry i s  no w  just one ofmany. If th e  vi rtualre ali t y conj ectur ei s a lso a parad igmshift, it  willb e evalu a ted byits fr uit ful ness no tthe  l o gic of  th e  pr evious p ar ad igm,whic h m a y re mai n as  thespecial caseofa lo c alreali ty. 5 . Di sc ussio n Abou t a c en tury ago Russel l us ed Occam' s r az or7  t o cut down t heide a thatlife is a d re a m :  " There is no logica li m po ssibilit y in t h esu p position  t hat  the w holeof l i fe  is a dr eam, i n  w hi ch we o ur selves  c rea teall t h e ob jectsthat com e bef o re us. But alt h ough this isn ot l og i call y i mpossible,ther e  isno r e as onw hatev er to  s u pp o se that it is true;  a nd itis, i n fact, a les s simple h y p o thesis,view e da s a means of a ccoun ting for t h e factsof ou r own li fe, thant h e common -se nse  hy pot h e si s that therer e ally  a re obje cts  indepe nde ntofus,  w hose acti on on us  c au se sour  sens a tions."(R uss el l,1912) The vi rtual  rea li ty con jecture is n ot s oea sily  di sm issed , as inphysics  today it  is thesi mp ler sta tement. Given  t he big ban g,  is  it si m p ler that  an objectively real un i verse a ros e fro m no thing ortha t a vi rtu a l real ity wa s boo te d u p ?  Give n th atno thing goes f ast er th an  lig ht, isit simpler that th e  "n othing" of em pty  spa c e  l imi t si tssp e edo r  that a process ing limitdo e s?  When info r mat io n proce ssing e xplai n s morephysics t han commo n- sens e (Ta ble 1), Oc cam's ra zor cutst he ot h er  way.  5. 1 Egoc en tri sm Th e equa t ion s ofmodern  p hysics  woul dn 't chang e if the world were a v irtual  real ity . Indeed,  th e irstatus wo uldrise, from  co nve nient  fi c tions  tol it era l  trut hs.T hat our p h ys ica l 7Occam's Raz o r isnot t o m u ltiply  cau ses unnecessarily ,  but prefer th e si m p ler  th e oryBr ian WhitworthQua nt u m  Biosyst em s 2010, 2 ( 1) 221-2 49 242 b odiesare pi xilated a va t ars in  a d igi tal world  ch al l enge no tma t hemati cs b ut  the h uman e g o, a s science has ofte n don e befor e : " Since  o ur earl i estancestorsadmired the  stars , ou r hum an egos  h ave su ffe re d a series of blows. " (Te gmark,20 07)Cop ernicu s ch a l lenge d th epar adigm tha t th e  E ar t h w as t he ce nt er o f the uni v erse. Sc ien c e now k no wst h at our li t t le planetcir clesa medi
, 1970),_when intellectual_structures are renovated and_expanded, e.g._removing_Euclid's axiom_that_parallel lines can't_converge allowed the_development of hyper-geometries, where_parallel lines on_a_curved surface like the earth do converge (at the poles). Euclid's geometry is now_just_the zero_curvature_flat_surface case, i.e. what was_once the only possible geometry_is now_just one of many. If the virtual reality_conjecture_is also a_paradigm shift, it will be evaluated by its fruitfulness_not the logic of the previous_paradigm, which may_remain_as_the special case of_a local reality. 5. Discussion About_a century ago Russell used Occam's_razor7 to cut down the idea that_life is a dream: "There is_no logical impossibility in the_supposition that_the whole of life is_a dream, in_which we_ourselves create all_the objects that come before us._But although this_is not logically impossible, there is_no_reason whatever to_suppose_that_it is_true; and it_is,_in fact,_a_less simple hypothesis, viewed as a_means_of accounting for the facts of our_own life, than the_common-sense_hypothesis that there really_are objects independent of us,_whose action on us causes our_sensations." (Russell,_1912) The_virtual reality conjecture is not so easily dismissed, as in physics_today it is the simpler statement._Given the big bang,_is it_simpler_that an objectively_real_universe arose_from nothing or that a virtual reality_was booted_up? Given that nothing goes faster_than light, is it_simpler_that the "nothing" of empty space_limits its speed or that a_processing limit does? When information_processing_explains_more physics than common-sense (Table_1), Occam's razor cuts the other_way. 5.1 Egocentrism_The equations of modern physics wouldn't change_if_the world were a virtual reality._Indeed,_their status would rise, from convenient_fictions_to_literal truths. That our physical_7 Occam's Razor is not to_multiply causes unnecessarily, but prefer the simpler theory Brian_Whitworth Quantum Biosystems_2010, 2 (1) 221-249 242_bodies_are_pixilated avatars in a digital world challenge not mathematics but_the human_ego, as science_has often done before: "Since our earliest ancestors admired the_stars, our human egos have suffered a_series of blows." (Tegmark, 2007) Copernicus challenged the paradigm that the_Earth was the center of the universe. Science_now knows that our little planet circles_a medi