Question

Describe the experience machine" objection to the view that happiness (or pleasure & positive feeling) is the only thing that is ultimately good. Do you agree with the objection why or why not? TTT

Answer 1

Experience machine

Experience machine is also known as Pleasure machine. It is an imaginary machine, that could gives us pleasurable experiences or desirable experiences that we would wish. This concept of ' Experience machine ' is put forward by Robert Nozick ( 1974). With the concept of ' Experience machine ' he tried to prove that the view of hedonism , that is, ' happiness is the only thing that is ultimately good' is wrong.  

'Experience machine' objection well refuted to the view that happiness is the only thing that is ultimately good'. This pleasure view is from hedonism. But Nozick argued against this view. He told people to imagine an ' Experience machine ', If someone plug into it he can experience all types of pleasure, that he would prefer. Then he proposed a choice ' how many would prefer to plug into machine '?.. Objection view to the hedonism clearly tells that 'we want to experience happiness by doing an action not merely experiencing the pleasure of the activity by a simulation.

( I) Agree with the objection because not only happiness is a worthwhile but also other life experiences also give us satisfaction. If there is no sorrow or stress , we will not understand the sweetness of happiness and relaxation.Every one want to live a life ' in contact with reality not merely some pleasure experience or illusion of happiness.