The Speculist

In our recent discussion about whether this universe is a simulation (and what use intelligent beings might make of simulated universes), Stephen wrote the following:

Why not bring the simulated minds into their world at that point? In fact, wouldn't that be an efficient way to keep the exponential progress of a Singularity going? A post-Singularity civilization could literally bring more and more post-Singularity minds into the "real" world via full simulations of other realities up to the point of their Singularity.

Maybe the beings in the lower-level realities do bring the simulated beings into the "real" world once they achieve Singularity status. Moreover, maybe the same identities or personalities keep showing up in different simulations until they're lucky enough to make it to one that's on the brink of Singularity. What if the software program that makes me me has shown up in many thousands (or millions) of simulated universes, but this is the first time I've been around (potentially) for the Big Leap? Once I'm in the real world post-Singularity, perhaps I will have access to all those different versions of myself that have been run in the other simulations.

This could be seen as a slightly askew take on the soul, reincarnation, and Nirvana. Sure, it sounds a little sketchy, but it's got to be at least as likely as, say, quantum immortality. Or, come to think of it, maybe it's a restatement of the same idea.

UPDATE: As I re-read this, it looks like I have substituted a mathematical model of the soul for the traditional, metaphysical model without explaining how such a thing could exist. I mean, it isn't much of a leap to say that Phil Bowermasters who lead pretty much the same life I do -- or some divergent version of the same life -- over in another simulation/parallel universe would be the same guy I am. But could there be other people in other times and places who are the "same" person as I am. That's a tougher nut to crack.