The experience machine and mental state theories of well-being

Journal of Value Inquiry 33 (3):381-387 (1999)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

It is argued that Nozick's experience machine thought experiment does not pose a particular difficulty for mental state theories of well-being. While the example shows that we value many things beyond our mental states, this simply reflects the fact that we value more than our own well-being. Nor is a mental state theorist forced to make the dubious claim that we maintain these other values simply as a means to desirable mental states. Valuing more than our mental states is compatible with maintaining that the impact of such values upon our well-being lies in their impact upon our mental lives.

Similar books and articles

Accidentally factive mental states.Baron Reed - 2005 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 71 (1):134–142.
The myth of the hidden.William E. S. McNeill - 2009 - Dissertation, University College London
Problemas del empirismo en la filosofía de la mente.Jose S. Pescador Hierro - 1997 - Teorema: International Journal of Philosophy 16 (2):35-49.
Mental Statism and the Experience Machine.Adam J. Kolber - 1994 - Bard Journal of Social Sciences 3:10-17.
Acategorial states in a representational theory of mental processes.Harald Atmanspacher - 2010 - Journal of Consciousness Studies 17 (5-6):5 - 6.
Two concepts of consciousness.David M. Rosenthal - 1986 - Philosophical Studies 49 (May):329-59.
Of minds and molecules.Francis V. Raab - 1965 - Philosophy of Science 32 (January):57-72.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
2,702 (#2,555)

6 months
218 (#9,616)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Jason Kawall
Colgate University

Citations of this work

The Good Cause Account of the Meaning of Life.Aaron Smuts - 2013 - Southern Journal of Philosophy 51 (4):536-562.
How to Use the Experience Machine.Eden Lin - 2016 - Utilitas 28 (3):314-332.
Hedonism reconsidered.Roger Crisp - 2006 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 73 (3):619–645.
If You Like It, Does It Matter if It’s Real?Felipe De Brigard - 2010 - Philosophical Psychology 23 (1):43-57.
The Experience Machine.Ben Bramble - 2016 - Philosophy Compass 11 (3):136-145.

View all 26 citations / Add more citations

References found in this work

Two Theories of the Good: L. W. SUMNER.L. W. Sumner - 1992 - Social Philosophy and Policy 9 (2):1-14.

Add more references