Philosophy: Introduction to Ethics. Psychology Essay

Philosophy: Introduction to Ethics
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Philosophy: Introduction to Ethics
Robert Nozick invented what he referred to as the “experience machine” to challenge the notion of happiness and pleasure as formulated by philosophical hedonists. The nature of Nozick’s Experience Machine is that of a tank containing fluid and electrodes and situated in a dark room somewhere. The machine is operated through the computer that can preprogramme the experiences of life for willing individuals. If one desires to enter into a new realm of life experiences, they could do so by telling the machine operators to program the machine to give them the optimal life that they wish to have from that point onwards. Once the person is made unconscious and is attached to the tank’s electrodes, they float and experience everything as if it were happening in real-time (Shafer-Landau, 2007, p. 292). Since all memories of entering the experience machine or the knowledge of the new world is just a simulation would be erased, the person in the tank would have a perfect life (Hindriks & Douven, 2018). The philosophical question that Nozick poses is whether, given the chance, it is rational for anyone in their perfect state of mind to plug into the machine. Further, it is philosophically prudent to explore why the concept of the experience machine might pose a challenge to hedonism, and whether this challenge is successful.
According to hedonistic theories, the essence of human experience is measurable in the absolute terms of what comprises pleasure and pain. Precisely, hedonists argue that the only elements that govern human actions, motivations, and beliefs are pain and pleasure (Weijers, 2019). Therefore, hedonists take an individualistic view of life, so that, life comprises only what is experienced by the one living it (Crisp, 2017). Further, hedonism contends that pleasure is of intrinsic value to human existence, while pain is intrinsically valueless.
From a hedonist perspective, a chance to experience all the pleasures that one desires in life through the experience machine cannot be wasted. Moreover, such a machine is a golden opportunity for an individual to pursue and even achieve the greatest balance of pleasure over pain (Crisp, 2017). Since pleasure is the element that fulfills human nature (according to hedonism), it is right to enter Nozick’s experience machine (Nozick, 1974). Taking into account the perspective of a renowned hedonist; Jeremy Bentham, one would say that the more prolonged and intense the pleasantness of one’s life experiences, the more fulfilling it will be (Crimmins, 2019). The fact that the experience machine as proposed by Nozick makes this hedonistic goal achievable would make it appear right to enter the machine. However, the idea of the experience machine actually poses a major philosophical challenge for hedonism.
Personally, I would turn down the chance to enter Nozick’s experience machine because doing so would violate my dignity. As Nozick argues, maximizing pleasure is not the only goal of human experience (Nozick, 1974). I find it is more dignifying for me to face the reality/truth, though sometimes painful than enjoy an illusionary satisfa...