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If you created a simulation that resulted in the creation of countless intelligent beings would it be unethical to end the simulation? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 5 months ago* by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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[–] 56 points 5 months ago (4 children)

Intelligence isn't the important factor there - consciousness is. Does it feel like something to be those entities in the simulation? If yes, then I'd argue that ending the simulation is like killing a person painlessly in their sleep.

I personally don't think ending the simulation is even the most troubling part. We could unintentionally create a simulation that's effectively a hell and then populate it with entities that have subjective experiences we don't realize exist. The only thing worse than ending a life is creating one just for it to suffer through its entire existence.

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  • [–] 16 points 5 months ago

    We could unintentionally create a simulation that's effectively a hell and then populate it with entities that have subjective experiences we don't realize exist. The only thing worse than ending a life is creating one just for it to suffer through its entire existence.

    And this is basically the plot of the TV series Severance. Has me wondering how they intend to address it.

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  • [–] 8 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Didn't scientists train brain cells to exclusively play Doom? It's like their whole conscience is stuck in a video game version of hell through a brain in a vat experience.

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  • [–] 3 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Not really. It's not nearly enough cells to have any kind of consciousness as we know it. A few neurons learning to play a game is a far cry from tying a being into a simulation of hell.

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  • [–] 2 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    I dunno. Some life forms have only a few brain cells. It could mean their whole world for those little cells, wouldn't it?

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  • [–] 4 points 5 months ago

    It is definitely their entire world, but the point is it takes far more than a few cells to create actual human-relatable sentience.

    That's coming from someone who fully understands and knows that many more animals than most humans care to admit also have sentience.

    Those petri dishes are not sentient nor conscious.

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