[doktrin]

> At which point, the question becomes, why not just observe the real universe?

I don't think the 'why' is the right question to ponder. It's really a matter of 'if'.

We lack the context to adequately answer 'why' one might decide to create a simulation of a universe. Any(one/thing) capable of putting such a simulation together is about as different from us as we are from bacteria. Therefore, considering motivation is a bit of a dead end.

The 'if' is a question we can at least theorize about. Is a simulated universe possible? If we accept that it is, then we also accept that we are most likely currently in one.

[tehwalrus]

> Is a simulated universe possible? If we accept that it is, then we also accept that we are most likely currently in one.

I'm sorry, I never was one for philosophy. How does that follow?

[doktrin]

The reasoning is essentially that if it's possible, then it's been done. If it's been done, then the odds that we are in the original universe become extremely low and the chance we are in one of the turtles-all-the-way-down simulations conversely high.