An interesting question on Mill

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Reply Sun 10 May, 2009 09:11 am
Imagine that humans could be plugged into a machine that simulates real life where unpleasent experiences will be reduced to a great amount, so the person would feel far less pain. In your opinion what would Mill prefer, the real life or the machine?
 
Krumple
 
Reply Sun 10 May, 2009 09:42 am
@Jacob phil,
I cant speak for Mill only speculate but I think I can answer for myself.

To me if there were such a thing it might hinder my ability to feel pleasantness. It seems that we define great pleasure in terms of it's opposite. So if you diminish the opposite of pleasure long enough then that pleasure too will also diminish.

Some might argue that simply can not be. Look at pain killers for chronic pain? Would you rather have the chronic pain just so you can keep fresh your understanding of pleasure? Well I think if you deaden one you are probably deadening the other equally. Maybe that's just my ignorance but it seems to be that way.
 
 

 
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