While the idea that reality might be an illusion dates back to philosophers like Plato and Descartes, Nick Bostrombrought the concept into the modern age. In 2003, the Swedish philosopher published Are You Living in a Computer Simulation?, a paper that transformed the simulation hypothesis from science fiction into a serious philosophical discussion.
Rather than claiming we live in a simulation, Bostrom proposed a thought experiment. He argued that if future civilizations become advanced enough to simulate conscious minds, and if they choose to create vast numbers of these simulations, then statistically it becomes increasingly likely that we are living in one rather than in “base reality.”
Whether his conclusion is correct remains a topic of debate, but Bostrom’s work gave the simulation hypothesis a logical framework that continues to influence philosophers, scientists, and technologists. Today, his Ancestor Simulation model remains one of the foundational theories explored by the Simulation Theory Society.