[estefan]

> Both the Intelligent Alien and Simulation ideas just push the question of 'purpose' up a level

They do, but while the 'kid in his garage running the simulation' may have no purpose, I guess the article author is suggesting that in a simulation our 'purpose' is to let the experiment play out and entertain this transcendental 'kid'.

[cortesoft]

Right, but what gives the purpose created by the garage-kid any sway? What gives garage-kid the authority to set my purpose? Creating something doesn't automatically mean our purpose is what the creator says it is; I think most people don't subscribe to the belief that kids should always do whatever their parents think is important once they are adults.

So in the end, what does it mean if the garage-kid created us to entertain him? Am I bound by that purpose? Does it somehow give my life more meaning?

[roywiggins]

Even worse, what if the purpose is malignant. What if we're part of a intradimensional torture device, or something? That seems even worse than purposelessness. Or we're all in Rick Sanchez's pocket universe spaceship battery.