Would you opt for a life with no pain? - Hayley Levitt and Bethany Rickwald

譯者: Casper Hsu 審譯者: Ann Chen

Imagine if you could plug your brain into a machine

想像你可以把腦袋連接到一個機器上

that would bring you ultimate pleasure for the rest of your life.

它將會給你的餘生帶來無限的快樂

If you were given the choice to sign up for that kind of existence, would you?

如果你有機會選擇這樣的生活 你會要接上機器嗎？

That's the question philosopher Robert Nozick posed

這是哲學家羅伯特‧諾齊克所問的問題

through a thought experiment he called the Experience Machine.

是透過一個他稱為 「體驗機器」的假想實驗

The experiment asks us to consider a world

這個實驗要求我們想像一個世界

in which scientists have developed a machine that would simulate real life

在這世界裡，科學家已經創造出 可以模擬真實生活的機器

while guaranteeing experiences of only pleasure and never pain.

並保證只有快樂，沒有痛苦

The catch?

代價是？

You have to permanently leave reality behind,

你必須永遠地脫離現實

but you'll hardly know the difference.

但是你幾乎感覺不到有何差別

Your experiences will be indistinguishable from reality.

你的感受將會跟在現實世界相差無幾

Life's natural ups and downs

生命中自然的高低起伏

will just be replaced with an endless series of ups.

將會被無盡的幸福滿足取代

Sounds great, right?

聽起來很棒，對吧？

It may seem like a tempting offer, but perhaps it's not as ideal as it sounds.

聽起來像是個誘人的提議 但或許它並不是那麼完美

The experiment was actually designed to refute a philosophical notion

這個實驗的設計 是用來反駁一個哲學概念

called hedonism.

稱為「享樂主義」

According to hedonists,

依照享樂主義的說法

maximizing net pleasure is the most important thing in life

“淨快樂最大化” 是人生最重要的事

because pleasure is the greatest good that life has to offer.

因為快樂是生命賦予最美好的事物

For hedonists, the best choice that a person could make for himself

對享樂主義而言，一個人能選擇

is one that brings him the greatest possible amount of pleasure

可以帶給他自己最大快樂的 那就是最好的選擇

while bringing him no pain.

同時沒有痛苦

Limitless pleasure minus zero pain equals maximum net pleasure,

無限的快樂減去零痛苦 等於最大的淨快樂

or in other words, the exact scenario the Experience Machine offers.

換言之，就是那機器提供的情境

Therefore, if hedonism is your philosophy of choice,

因此，如果你尊崇享樂主義

plugging in would be a no-brainer.

連接到那台機器將是個不二選擇

But what if there's more to life than just pleasure?

但是如果人生意義不僅僅是享樂呢？

That's what Nozick believed he was demonstrating

這正是諾奇克相信經由「體驗機器」 的假想實驗表達了這個觀點

through his Experience Machine thought experiment.

Despite the machine's promise of maximum net pleasure,

儘管機器承諾了最大的淨快樂

he still found reason not to plug in,

他仍找到不要連接機器的理由

as do many other experimenters who consider the proposition.

就像很多想過這個實驗的 其他實驗者也是提出同樣看法

But what could possibly dissuade us from choosing a future of ultimate pleasure?

是什麼會勸阻我們追尋無限快樂的未來？

Consider this scenario.

想像這個劇本

Betsy and Xander are in a loving, committed relationship.

貝琦跟山德是熱戀中的情侶

Betsy is head over heels and has never felt happier.

貝琦如癡如醉，從來沒有如此開心過

However, unbeknownst to Betsy,

但是，貝琦並不曉得

Xander has been romancing her sister, Angelica,

山德正在跟他妹妹安潔莉卡交往

with love letters and secret rendezvous for the duration of their relationship.

在他們的戀愛期間 兩人在她背後互通款曲與幽會

If Betsy found out,

如果貝琦發現真相

it would destroy her relationships with both Xander and Angelica,

將會摧毀她與山德及安潔莉卡的關係

and the experience would be so traumatic, she would never love again.

這段經驗將會創傷太大 讓她再也無法重拾愛情

Since Betsy is in blissful ignorance about Xander's infidelity,

因為貝琪正處於幸福中 而對山德的不忠一無所知

hedonists would say she's better off remaining in the dark

享樂主義者會認為 她最好繼續被蒙在鼓裡

and maintaining her high level of net pleasure.

並保持極度開心的狀態

As long as Betsy never finds out about the relationship,

只要貝琦永遠不知道他們兩人的關係

her life is guaranteed to go on as happily as it is right now.

她的一生保證會跟當下一樣快樂

So, is there value in Besty knowing the truth of her situation?

這樣，讓貝琦知道真相有意義嗎？

Imagine if you were Betsy.

想像妳是貝琦

Would you prefer to know the truth?

你會想要知道真相嗎？

If the answer is yes,

如果答案是 “是”

you'd be choosing an option that sharply decreases your net pleasure.

你正做了會陡降你淨快樂的選擇

Perhaps, then, you believe that there are things in life

或許，你相信生命除了享樂之外 尚有更美好的內在價值

with greater intrinsic value than pleasure.

Truth, knowledge, authentic connection with other human beings.

真理、知識，和其他人真實可靠的關係

These are all things that might make the list.

這些都是構成生命意義的要素

By never learning the truth,

如果永遠不知道事情的真相

Betsy is essentially living life in her own personal Experience Machine,

貝琦就會像活在自己的體驗機器裡

a world of happiness that's not based in reality.

一個虛幻快樂的世界

This love triangle is an extreme example,

這個三角戀是一個極端的例子

but it mirrors many of the decisions we make in day to day life.

但它也反映了我們每天做的很多決定

So whether you're making a choice for Betsy or for yourself,

所以不論你是為貝琪或為你自己做決定

why might you feel reality should be a factor?

為什麼你可能覺得 現實應該是一項考慮要素？

Is there inherent value in real experiences,

無論是快樂的或是痛苦的 現實體驗真的有內在價值嗎？

whether pleasurable or painful?

Do you yourself have more value

當你經歷真實的快樂與痛苦後 你自己會更有價值嗎？

when you're experiencing real life's pleasures and pains?

Nozick's experiment may not provide all the answers,

諾齊克的實驗可能無法提供所有解答

but it forces us to consider whether real life, though imperfect,

但它驅使我們思考 “不完美的現實

holds some intrinsic value beyond the pleasure of plugging in.

超越虛幻享樂” 是否隱含更多的價值

翻譯：Casper Hsu