[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.84,0:00:10.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine if you could plug \Nyour brain into a machine
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.04,0:00:13.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would bring you ultimate pleasure\Nfor the rest of your life.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.32,0:00:17.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you were given the choice to sign up\Nfor that kind of existence, would you?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.62,0:00:20.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the question philosopher \NRobert Nozick posed
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.16,0:00:24.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through a thought experiment\Nhe called The Experience Machine.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.12,0:00:26.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The experiment asks us \Nto consider a world
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.30,0:00:30.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which scientists have developed \Na machine that would simulate real life
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.38,0:00:35.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while guaranteeing experiences\Nof only pleasure and never pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.61,0:00:36.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The catch?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.54,0:00:39.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have to permanently\Nleave reality behind,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.01,0:00:40.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but you'll hardly know the difference.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.84,0:00:44.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your experiences will be \Nindistinguishable from reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.25,0:00:45.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Life's natural ups and downs
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.76,0:00:49.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will just be replaced \Nwith an endless series of ups.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.84,0:00:51.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sounds great, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.40,0:00:56.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It may seem like a tempting offer,\Nbut perhaps its not as ideal as it sounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.10,0:00:59.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The experiment was actually designed\Nto refute a philosophical notion
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.88,0:01:01.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called hedonism.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.58,0:01:02.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,According to hedonists,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.100,0:01:06.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maximizing net pleasure \Nis the most important thing in life
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.94,0:01:10.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because pleasure is the greatest good\Nthat life has to offer.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.31,0:01:13.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For hedonists, the best choice that\Na person could make for himself
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.49,0:01:17.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is one that brings him the greatest\Npossible amount of pleasure
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.12,0:01:19.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while bringing him no pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.33,0:01:23.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Limitless pleasure minus zero pain\Nequals maximum net pleasure,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.70,0:01:28.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or in other words, the exact scenario\Nthe Experience Machine offers.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.42,0:01:30.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Therefore, if hedonism \Nis your philosophy of choice,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.96,0:01:33.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plugging in would be a no-brainer.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.98,0:01:36.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what if there's more to life\Nthan just pleasure?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.77,0:01:39.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what Nozick believed\Nhe was demonstrating
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.05,0:01:42.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through his Experience Machine \Nthought experiment.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.19,0:01:45.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Despite the machine's promise\Nof maximum net pleasure,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.12,0:01:47.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he still found reason not to plug in,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.59,0:01:51.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as do many other experimenters\Nwho consider the proposition.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.86,0:01:56.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what could possibly dissuade us from\Nchoosing a future of ultimate pleasure?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.67,0:01:58.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Consider this scenario.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.16,0:02:01.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Betsy and Zander are in a loving,\Ncommitted relationship.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.07,0:02:04.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Betsy is head over heels,\Nand has never felt happier.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.32,0:02:06.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, unbeknownst to Betsy,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.05,0:02:09.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Zander has been romancing\Nher sister, Angelica,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.20,0:02:14.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with love letters and secret rendezvous\Nfor the duration of their relationship.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.40,0:02:15.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If Betsy found out,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.52,0:02:19.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it would destroy her relationships \Nwith both Zander and Angelica,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.48,0:02:23.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the experience would be so traumatic,\Nshe would never love again.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.49,0:02:26.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since Betsy is in blissful ignorance\Nabout Zander's infidelity,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.63,0:02:30.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hedonists would say she's better off\Nremaining in the dark
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.00,0:02:33.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and maintaining her high level\Nof net pleasure.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.63,0:02:36.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As long as Betsy never finds out\Nabout the relationship,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.48,0:02:41.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,her life is guaranteed to go on\Nas happily as it is right now.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.20,0:02:45.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, is there value in Besty knowing\Nthe truth of her situation?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.82,0:02:47.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine if you were Betsy.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.56,0:02:49.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Would you prefer to know the truth?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.91,0:02:51.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If the answer is yes,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.06,0:02:55.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you'd be choosing an option\Nthat sharply decreases your net pleasure.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.34,0:02:57.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps, then, you believe\Nthere are things in life
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.94,0:03:00.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with greater intrinsic value\Nthan pleasure.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.94,0:03:04.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Truth, knowledge, authentic connection\Nwith other human beings.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.81,0:03:07.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are all things \Nthat might make the list.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.67,0:03:09.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By never learning the truth,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.07,0:03:13.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Betsy is essentially living life\Nin her own personal Experience Machine,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.21,0:03:17.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a world of happiness \Nthat's not based in reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.03,0:03:19.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This love triangle is an extreme example,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.34,0:03:23.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it mirrors many of the decisions\Nwe make in day to day life.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.65,0:03:26.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So whether you're making a choice\Nfor Betsy or for yourself,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.57,0:03:30.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why might you feel reality\Nshould be a factor?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.10,0:03:33.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is there inherent value \Nin real experiences,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.12,0:03:35.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether pleasurable or painful?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.52,0:03:37.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you yourself have more value
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.39,0:03:41.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you're experiencing \Nreal life's pleasures and pains?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.85,0:03:44.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nozick's experiment may not provide\Nall the answers,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.36,0:03:48.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it forces us to consider whether\Nreal life, though imperfect,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.57,0:03:52.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,holds some intrinsic value \Nbeyond the pleasure of plugging in.