# The Future Of Scientific Simulations: From Artificial Life To Artificial Cosmogenesis.

Clément Vidal Evolution, Complexity and Cognition research group Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels)
Krijgskundestraat 33, 1160 Brussels, Belgium Phone +32-2-640 67 37 Fax +32-2-644 07 44 http://clement.vidal.philosophons.com clement.vidal@philosophons.com

## 1 Abstract:

This philosophical paper explores the relation between modern scientific simulations and the future of the universe. We argue that a simulation of an entire universe will result from future scientific activity. This requires us to tackle the challenge of simulating open-ended evolution at all levels in a single simulation. The simulation should encompass not only biological evolution, but also physical evolution (a level below) and cultural evolution (a level above). The simulation would allow us to probe what would happen if we would "replay the tape of the universe" with the same or different laws and initial conditions. We also distinguish between *real-world* and *artificial-world* modelling. Assuming that intelligent life could indeed simulate an entire universe, this leads to two tentative hypotheses. Some authors have argued that we may already be in a simulation run by an intelligent entity. Or, if such a simulation could be made real, this would lead to the production of a new universe. This last direction is argued with a careful speculative philosophical approach, emphasizing the imperative to find a solution to the heat death problem in cosmology. The reader is invited to consult Annex 1 for an overview of the logical structure of this paper. 

Keywords: far future, future of science, ALife, simulation, realization, cosmology, heat death, fine-tuning, physical eschatology, cosmological natural selection, cosmological artificial selection, artificial cosmogenesis, selfish biocosm hypothesis, meduso-anthropic principle, developmental singularity hypothesis, role of intelligent life. 

## Content

| Introduction 2 Towards a simulation of an entire universe 3 Increase of computing resources 3 Bridging physical, biological and cultural evolution 5 Replaying the tape of the universe 5 Real-world and artificial-world modelling 6 The simulation hypothesis 7 Towards a realization of an entire universe 8 The heat death problem 8 A philosophical approach for a speculative topic 9 Artificial cosmogenesis 9 Conclusion 10 Annex 1 - Logical structure of the paper 11 Acknowledgements 14 References 14   |
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