Consciousness is simply an illusion emergent of a Boltzmann brain configuration....

[maestroanth]

One other consideration. If the Boltzmann Brain hypothesis is based on the concept of matter randomly coming together to form various things (like pizzas, or teapots, or brains) given an infinite amount of time, one must also consider that the matter in our universe is probably NOT infinite. Protons, for example, are thought to have a half-life of about 10^31 years or so. A very, very long time, to be sure, but certainly nowhere near the infinite time scales imagined when considering the chances of a Boltzmann Brain forming. Furthermore, given the accelerating expansion of the universe at present, if this trend continues into the future, it will be less likely that matter will be able to clump together to form anything, including galaxies, solar systems, planets... and especially random brains. The more I think about this hypothesis, the less probable it seems to become.

Sure you can consider the life span of protons and conclude a finite time/space.  

That's not at all what I conclude. The fact that protons may be finite within the universe is not meant to imply that space and time itself are necessarily limited. In other words, while normal matter may have a lifespan, the universe may itself be eternal. My point is that IF Boltzmann Brains rely on material elements to exist (similar but perhaps not identical to our brains), THEN they may have a limited window of finite time in which to form IF protons do indeed decay OR the expansion of the universe is such that it eventually forces matter apart. I think you may have read into my original statement more than I meant to imply.

Hmm...I always interpreted the Boltzmann brain as sort of a metaphor for how "our" brains actually developed.  I.e. a statistical, but very interesting and somewhat rare instance of an entropy configuration. - I mean that's how I mainly view the human brain as. However if there is someone that is more keen on this Boltzmann philosophy than me, please correct me if explaining human brains like this wasn't part of his original intentions.

Anywho, that's the interpretation I've had when I made this thread topic.