The Eight Postulates of the SSRCL
Consciousness Begins Discovery.
The Eight Postulates are not statements of fact. They are the foundational questions that guide the Society’s exploration of the simulation hypothesis. Each postulate represents a possibility worthy of investigation and discussion. Together, they form the starting point for inquiry.
I. Reality May Be Constructed.
The universe we experience may not represent base reality, but rather an artificial environment created by an intelligence beyond our perception.
II. Consciousness May Be Observable.
Our thoughts, choices, and behaviors may be the true subject of the simulation rather than the physical world around us.
III. Free Will May Be Limited.
Our decisions may emerge from genuine autonomy, predetermined systems, or a combination of both. Determining where agency begins remains one of the Society’s central questions.
IV. Reality May Be Layered.
The simulation itself may exist within another simulation, creating successive layers of reality beyond our ability to observe.
V. Time May Not Be Constant.
Time within the simulation may pass differently than it does for its creators. Entire civilizations could unfold in moments or a single day could represent centuries here.
VI. The World May Be Dynamic.
Events, environments, and even history itself may be altered in response to variables beyond our awareness, much like updates to an evolving system.
VII. Observation May Influence Reality.
The act of observing, measuring, or becoming conscious of a system may itself influence how that system behaves.
VIII. Discovery May Be the Purpose.
Whether created for research, preservation, entertainment, education, or reasons beyond our imagination, the simulation may ultimately exist to observe the emergence of consciousness itself.