Brian In A Vat!

Eshi pointed out a few posts ago that one of our favorite things is philosophy. One of my favorite things to do is thought experiments. A thought experiment is essentially a statement or set of statements that asks the reader/listener to consider certain theories or principals in a hypothetical situation in hopes of discovering more about the consequences of the situation. There are some very famous thought experiments such as the prisoner's dilemma and Schrodinger's Cat.

A lot of science fiction also deals with the principals of certain though experiments. One of my favorites is a variation on the experience machine thought experiment brought up in Philip K Dick's short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale". The basic premise is that psychologists have a machine that if you were to step into it you would be fed the sensory experience of your choice. This experience would be perfect. Every bit of, say a trip to Tahiti, would be implanted into your brain. It would be as if you were there. Would you enter the machine? The matrix also deals with this issue, or at least in part as a brain in a vat style scenario. Is a simulated experience as valuable as a real experience?

Given this, I would probably argue yes since you could do things that were seemingly impossible for a normal person, like traveling to Mars. That being said I also understand the reasons why you wouldn't want to. Since sensory experience is how humans interact with the world any machine that could replicate that and implant it would be basically the same, save for one thing. Real world impact doesn't happen with that. People wouldn't remember you going to Tahiti/ people in Tahiti wouldn't remember you being there. If you went on vacation and met someone who would become a lifelong friend that would be great. If you did that in the experience machine it couldn't be maintained outside of the machine, unless it somehow linked your experience with other peoples experiences. In the end the answer depends on where you place value. If you want to have had the experience and an impact on the world (no matter how small) real life is the best and only way to accomplish both. If the sensory data is all that matters to you, then the machine could work. Incidentally how cool would it be to use a machine like that to learn kung fu? Or shit, get a degree? I think I want to change my answer! It would be best if you could just use it to amplify the human experience further than what normal time/space restrictions put on you.

As kind of a addendum I also want to talk about a version of this thought experiment that takes it to the matrix level of interaction with the machine. In this version, first proposed by philosopher Robert Nozick, the premise is different in that it was something that would create an entire life for you in which you will only ever have favorable experiences, all of which would feel absolutely real. That sounds great right? Nothing but good things would happen to you for your entire life. Upon examination though, experiencing nothing but pleasure from an experience implanting machine eliminates any value you as a person have since you cannot have any effect on the real world. For all intents and purposes you are a just a lump of flesh in a machine. You also end up putting limits on yourself in that the machine can only be programmed to implant experiences that have already been experienced by man: you couldn't implant memories of things that have never happened to a person before. This means that you could never make/do anything new. This was originally designed to show the folly of hedonism by the way, and I think if you have the standard view of what human endeavor should be (people should try to have some impact on the world), it makes a very good argument.

The reason why I love thought experiments. I only scratched the surface here, there are tons more ways that you can take this, and you should! Thought experiments are great at making you think about what you place value in. For me, in the end, I think real experience eventually trumps anything simulated. For one, you can share it. Humans are naturally social creatures and therefore having other people also enjoy the experience makes it more valuable on a base level (at least it feels that way). Unless you are a solipsist. Then you should get in the machine. This is good for everyone, you get to feel good, and those of us outside of the machine don't have to deal with you.