I think there is something a bit amiss though.

“If that would be possible, the amount of simulated consciousnesses (is that even a word?) would vastly outnumber the amount of “real” consciousnesses… which means the probability that you and me are simulated rather than “real” approaches 100%. And of course, noone can ever claim to be “real”, there may always be another layer of simulation.”

I think when you reach such a baffling conclusion, you have to go back and recheck your assumptions to be able to make sense of things. In this case you have to examine exactly what you mean by the word “real”.

What does that mean? How do you define the real vs. the simulation? Simulations still exist as bits and bytes, electrons zooming about. Kinda like us.

There is no ultimate reality beyond that. How could there be? This idea of the “top” “real” reality is just a more abstract version of the idea of God.

Scifi nut that I am, I love the simulation hypotheis and the allegory of the cave.

The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks has a religion called The Truth that works across all species and races, no matter what their opinion or outlooks — and I kind of agree that it’s the only true religion. It proposes that reality as we know it is a simulation, and “heaven” is to get out of the simulation, to the real world. Armageddon/Ragnarök is to be left behind when the simulation shuts down.

And of course there are several movies with this theme. Matrix was already mentioned, Dark City and The Thirteenth Floor are two of my favorites. (Dark City being one of my favorite movies ever.)