Post-Metaphysics

I read an amusing article in the New York Times today which can be viewed here.

A philosopher at Oxford by the name of Nick Bostrom has the wild idea that the universe we live in may just be a virtual universe created by some larger proto-human geek with a super evolved computer. Now, this arguement seems no more silly than previous efforts in painting pictures of things larger than us. What I do find silly about it, however, is Bostrom's assertion that there's a 20% likelihood that we're living in a virtual (electrical) universe.

How can one create odds of intangibles? What formula could give "god" or "human-creator" a ratio of exisitence? It's ridiculous.

People are applying contemporary anecdotes to old creation stories. The cyber punk culture of The Matrix took mythological themes to make their metaphysical case. Men in Black ended with a twist on our perceptions of macrocosm and microcosm. Ryan Renyolds is staring in a movie called The Nines which appears to deal with him living in a Simsesque universe. We have the same stories told again with different pieces in place. If there should be anything learned from it it's that our "traditional" religions have failed, but we're still looking for answers to impossible questions.

While I welcome these questions, I'm amazed at what can go to print and film. Kierkegaard didn't get that kind of circulation.