The Great Filter theory, specifically what is called the Upper Income Trap -- once a civilization reaches a certain standard of living, approximately that of present day upper-middle-class Westerners, it stops reproducing and then dies out.

Almost a solution to the Fermi Paradox, except it’s the Virtual Reality Trap

Almost a solution to the Fermi Paradox, except it’s the Virtual Reality Trap

https://warpcast.com/pmarca/0x9422843d

Both are unlikely in practice imo, because they make an N-of-N assumption.

If even one culture can keep fertility rates high while others go low, it will end up dominating population-wise.

If even one culture can continue to focus on the physical world while others go virtual, it will end up dominating militarily.

My background is in physics, so I want to offer a potential counter argument via statistical/thermodynamic  principles. If the proliferation of VR/AR increase entropy at a rate faster than a lack thereof, both civilization and VR/AR will persist. If not, then VR/AR will fade and trend towards thermo equilibrium.

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