There’s a famous philosophical thought experiment imagined by Robert Nozick in the 1970s called The Experince Machine. The idea is that if there was a time in which it was possible for us to plug into a machine, fall unconscious but feel the experience of anything we want, would we plug in? Our bodies wouldn’t move, we would objectively be unconscious but we would feel the feelings of any experience. “When connected to this experience machine, you can have the experience of writing a great poem or bringing about world peace or loving someone and being loved in return” (2).

There’s nothing fake about the feeling of relief after sitting down at the end of a productive day

This idea is not inconceivable with Elon Musk’s Neuralink project in which we could have a “brain-computer interface” implanted which lets us control a computer or mobile device anywhere we go (3). Before, this thought experiment was just that: a thought experiment, however very soon it will become reality and we may have to ponder whether or not we should plug in. I would predict the majority would. If people could plug into a machine and feel the feelings of sex with multiple partners, feelings of drugs, feelings of adrenaline, feelings of dopamine rushing through the brain without any effort, the majority would plug in no questions asked and keep pressing on that lever, whilst their bodies whither away like that of the heroin addict.

However, intuitively after reading Nozick’s Experience Machine, the majority say they wouldn’t plug in and that brings hope because if the intention is there then it’s possible for the right action to follow, we just have to prepare for the eventual offer of plugging in. We intuitively do not want to plug in because there is something innately valuable in actually and objectively experiencing experiences. Plugging in feels fake, whereas there’s nothing fake about actually sky-diving or having sex. There’s nothing fake about the feeling of accomplishment and motivation that follows an intense workout. There’s nothing fake about the feeling of starting your day off right by plunging your body into ice-cold water. There’s nothing fake about the feeling of relief after sitting down at the end of a productive day. Therefore, if you said to yourself that you wouldn’t plug into the machine, yet you sit on the couch all day binge-watching television, eating junk food and watching porn, how can you be so sure? Imagine experiencing all of that without lifting a finger to press play on the remote, to order your food or to click play on the next video and imagine not having that feeling of shame or self-loathing after another unproductive day. If that doesn’t sound preferable, then you have to get to work. What you do matters, not just how you feel. You have to struggle for those feelings of accomplishment, of motivation, of meaning. You have to do that now before it’s too late. Before the Experience Machine is a reality and not just a thought experiment.

Keep On Struggling,

Gregor

Movie I Enjoyed - The Founder

“The story of Ray Kroc, a salesman who turned two brothers' innovative fast food eatery, McDonald's, into the biggest restaurant business in the world, with a combination of ambition, persistence, and ruthlessness” (5). I found this an interesting and heartbreaking story which perfectly encapsulates the nature of greed, ironically surrounding the most popular fast-food chain in the world.

Your Struggle Short For The Week

WATCH HERE

Quote to Ponder

Always take jobs for which you are not qualified; that way you will inevitably learn something. And do not drop out of college unless you truly have a better alternative. Some notable individuals have succeeded in spite of doing so, but it's a serious obstacle to overcome for most people - Esther Dyson

References

1) Image Credit - RawPixel

2) https://iep.utm.edu/experience-machine/#H1

3) Neuralink

4) The Founder Image - IMDB

5) IMDB