Argument from posthumanity
The argument from posthumanity or the new God argument is an argument for the existence of God proposed by Lincoln Cannon. It builds upon the simulation argument which states that there probably exist many simulated universes, there are more simulated worlds than non-simulated worlds, and therefore we probably are inside a simulation.
The argument argues for a different conception of God than mainstream apologetics. It assumes that a powerful and compassionate entity that created our world may be considered to be God. It does not argue that this God is infinite or perfect.
The argument[edit]
- Assumption: Humans will eventually evolve into a posthuman species.
- Assumption: Humans will not become extinct before this happens.
- Assumption: Humans' decentralized destructive capabilities, which are means of self extinction, will continue to increase.
- Therefore humans will have to have become more compassionate to have survived to become posthuman.
- Assumption: Posthumans will created many worlds that emulate their evolutionary past.
- Therefore there would be more simulated worlds than non-simulated worlds.
- It is more likely we live in a simulated world, than not.
- Assumption: An entity that is powerful, compassionate and created us may be considered to be God.
- Posthumans fit this definition, therefore posthumans may be considered to be God.
Counter arguments[edit]
Our world created by a non-posthuman entity[edit]
The argument assumes that the non-simulated world is somewhat like our (allegedly simulated) existence. This is completely unjustified since many other entities could have created a simulated world that resembles our own. These entities may lack the compassion we expect from God, so the compassion requirement fails. Saying "posthumans could create simulated worlds" implies "this simulated world was created by posthumans" is affirming the consequent.
The argument implies that such simulations will come about with future posthumans. However, it is possible that humans of the near future created our simulated reality. These humans would not have superior compassion and would be unworthy of being called God.
Is creating such a simulation possible?[edit]
Although our technological abilities rapidly increase, it is far from certain it would be practically possible to create a simulation like our world. On the other hand, the non-simulated world might be very suited to creating such simulating machines.
If our civilization collapses, humanity may continue as a non-technological species.[1]
Future civilizations might have legal or moral barriers to creating realistic simulations.
Unconventional concept of God[edit]
The argument claims to prove "God" is more compassionate than humans. This still allows the possibility that "God" created our world for selfish or malicious reasons. This does not fit with any common theology.
God could also be polytheistic if the simulation was created by a team.
God, in this argument, may not even be the most powerful entity in existence. God may exist in another simulated universe which was created by a higher "God".
Having compassion as an attribute for God is a relatively recent innovation: God commanded atrocities in the Old Testament.
Extinction is a possibility[edit]
The fact that our increasing decentralized destructive powers, including nuclear weapons, nanotechnology, biological warfare, environmental destruction, continue to increase is the main argument against the first assumption. It is unfortunately quite possible for humans to destroy themselves.
Humans are also at risk of non-self-inflicted extinction, such as from meteorite impact or massive volcanism (or alien invasion or an AI taking over). However, these disasters have a fairly low probability.
Multiverse[edit]
Humans may exist in an infinite (or vast) number of identical or nearly identical universes with a multiverse. The number of simulated universes might be less. Therefore we cannot claim we know that the number of simulated universes is greater than the number of non-simulated universes.
