05-17-2019, 02:50 PM
I rather enjoy examining moral dilemmas and thought experiments and came across these recently:
Moral Dilemma
If you think that killing innocent people is generally wrong, and had to pick from the following two options, which would you choose :
Kill an innocent person and have no memory of it for the rest of your life,
or not kill an innocent person but think you had for the rest of you life?
Thought Experiment
Suppose there were an experience machine that would give you any experience you desired. Neuropsychologists could stimulate your brain so that you would think and feel you were writing a great novel, or making a friend, or reading an interesting book. All the time you would be floating in a tank, with electrodes attached to your brain. Should you plug into this machine for life, preprogramming your life experiences? Of course, while in the tank you won't know that you're there; you'll think that it's all actually happening. Would you plug in?
If you have any interesting moral dilemmas or thought experiments, please share.
Moral Dilemma
If you think that killing innocent people is generally wrong, and had to pick from the following two options, which would you choose :
Kill an innocent person and have no memory of it for the rest of your life,
or not kill an innocent person but think you had for the rest of you life?
Thought Experiment
Suppose there were an experience machine that would give you any experience you desired. Neuropsychologists could stimulate your brain so that you would think and feel you were writing a great novel, or making a friend, or reading an interesting book. All the time you would be floating in a tank, with electrodes attached to your brain. Should you plug into this machine for life, preprogramming your life experiences? Of course, while in the tank you won't know that you're there; you'll think that it's all actually happening. Would you plug in?
If you have any interesting moral dilemmas or thought experiments, please share.
