Experience Machine Research Paper

Words: 1297
Pages: 6

I think participating in the experience machine would be a good idea because since reality is all within in our brains it is in our best interests to have our lives played out in the way we want. Humans want pleasure rather than knowing the truth (if we are assuming the truth will cause pain) so it is only natural that we would want all of our desires because we humans are selfish. According to George Berkeley, our world only consists of perceiving minds and their ideas so it does not matter if it is real or not because we will think the environment around us is the reality. Furthermore, Locke thinks that our experience of the world around us comes from the experience of the world that we acquire through the use of our senses. Thus, we know …show more content…
Using the theory of hedonism we believe that there are only two motivators, pain and pleasure and the decisions we make are to minimize our pain. All of the work we do is so that we can receive pleasure out of it or else we would not be doing it. Even if you did not connect to the experience machine, while living in the real world you still are in search of pleasure. The only difference is that I am certain to feel pleasure in my ideal world whilst you do not know for sure if you will be happy in reality. The only reason that you believe that reality is better is that you fear that if you experience pleasure in the moment you will have to face the consequences of your selfishness. Also, it does not matter if you are searching for true knowledge in reality as the knowledge you conclude is from imperfect forms in your imperfect world. According to Plato, both ways only in heaven will we be able to see a perfect form of something and have true …show more content…
As humans, we only bring the ability to apply reason to the information that we gather through from our senses. According to Locke, simple ideas are ideas that enter the mind through the senses, pure and uncomplicated. We often use the argument of “when I see it I’ll believe it”, this shows that we trust our senses to understand the world around us. I agree with your idea of that the more knowledge we have the unhappier we will be, but I think for some people they would feel enlightened knowing the truth and feel joy. In the experience machine, I think one would still be in search of knowledge since as humans we are asking questions and looking for answers to understand the world. Except in this case you would be searching for answers in your ideal life. I think that the truths would be altered in everyone’s reality and you could find the truth but your version of the truth would be different for others. Even when we are given facts we still have the choice of believing them or not, similarly, even if we did stay in reality unless you are willing to accept the truth - the good and the bad, you will believe what you want to