Robert Nozick's Argument Against Utilitarianism

936 Words2 Pages

Kurt Meyer
Phil 1301
Prof. Linda Cox
11/17/2016
Plugging into the Experience Machine The experience machine, proposed by a contemporary philosopher Robert Nozick struck me as very interesting when I first read it. The experience machine explores the idea of what makes people truly happy and if physically participating in the experience matters. In the pages ahead I will explain Nozick’s insight on the experiment and how he uses it as an argument against Utilitarianism. I will also explain the ideas of John Stuart Mill and his ideas of Utilitarianism, and how he would most likely be for using the machine. I will begin with John Stuart Mill a large defender of Utilitarianism. To put it simply Utilitarianism is about finding happiness by performing actions that promote …show more content…

As long as the machine does exactly what the machine says it should do, the experiences in the machine should have higher value than the experiences in the real world. Saying all this I do believe that anyone who follows the belief of Utilitarianism would most definitely use the experience machine, no questions asked. Now on to the creator of the thought experiment himself, Robert Nozick. Nozick’s view of the machine is a negative one, as he uses it as a tool to argue against Utilitarianism. He does admit that people may be happier in this world of illusion, but most people reject that world. Humans have a great desire to experience life and to be their own individuals. Nozick argues that if you use the machine, what makes you different from someone else using the machine? You are only experiencing these scenarios, so your personality and other traits have no stake in the machine. None of your individuality matters; you would just be a brain floating in a jar. Humans wish to fully experience life, satisfaction comes from overcoming adversity and seeing success on the other side. The journey is what

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