Imagine That You Are Placed into a Machine That Stimulates

question 29

Essay

Imagine that you are placed into a machine that stimulates your brain, making you think that your life is going wonderfully well, while all the time you are simply attached to an "Experience Machine" in a basement. Given that you could not tell that your life was illusory, would you choose to enter this machine, or not? Would it make a difference to you in answering this question if you learned that Berkeley's idealism was correct? Why, or why not?

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Definitions:

Disease Model

A framework that understands a disorder or illness as resulting from physiological causes and requiring medical treatment.

Alcohol Dependence

A medical condition characterized by a strong desire to drink alcohol, difficulties in controlling its use, persistent drinking despite harmful consequences, a higher priority given to drinking than to other activities and obligations, increased tolerance, and sometimes a physical withdrawal state.

Neurotransmitter

Biological chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another in the brain and nervous system, influencing mental health and functioning.

Nonmedical Prescription

The use of prescription drugs without a medical need or prescription, typically for recreational use or abuse.