![]() ![]() ![]() I think as well the fact that the thought experiment always involves people not knowing they are actually in a simulation once they choose it – shows that people would find no real lasting pleasure if they knew that is all a fantasy. Therefore plugging into a pleasure machine or entering the dream state permanently would cut us off from reality, from what is true. This ofcourse does not mean that we always know what is true, or that the truth is easy to obtain only that the purpose of reason and intellect is the truth in the various and multifaceted domains we encounter it. Therefore it is contrary to our nature and the purpose of reason, to desire anything less than that. By nature we desire through our reason to unite with reality, to know how things are, to grasp the truth. Human beings in general desire knowledge which is our reason conforming to reality. So are they then rejoicing in falsehood? It is an enactment of the philosopher Robert Nozick’s thought experiment of the pleasure machine where he asks if you could plug into a machine able to simulate the ideal life that you desire, would you plug in?Īugustine says no, people would not plug in because we desire to rejoice in the truth and not falsehood. What ends up happening is that the dreams becomes their reality they end up making a living just so that they can afford to go back to the dream place and live in their dreams. There is a place or business of sorts where people go to dream, and in these dreams they basically live out the kinds of life they want, having anything and everything they desire they end up with the kind of life that in reality they cannot obtain. ![]() I was watching the movie Inception the other day, which explores all these themes about reality, fantasy, dreams and the subconscious. There are two important ideas on happiness which I have been reflecting on from Augustine’s thought.įirstly, people want to rejoice and delight, or find happiness in what is true and not what is false. An excellent and insightful book where Augustine takes us through his intellectual, spiritual and psychological journey of self-knowledge and the knowledge of God. The quote above is from the classic book, The Confessions of St. ![]()
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