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OH I like the way you think! I've been sitting here thinking about the Matrix because of this discussion.

Here's a window into my twisted mind:

Would sitting in a chair with my head plugged into the grid really be such a bad thing? Yes, my butt would get even bigger due to the inactivity, but in my reality my butt would not be big and I'm sure I would be at least 25 pounds lighter.

ROFL! Plug me into that matrix please.

'Neato,

Robert Nozick, one of the very important philosophers of the late 20th c., discusses this kind of example in some depth. He considers whether it would be such a bad thing to hook yourself up to an "experience machine", a futuristic device that gives you whatever pleasurable or desirable experiences you'd like. He wonders whether we would really choose such an existence over real life, and argues that we wouldn't. There's a not-bad discussion of the example at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Experience_Machine, but the original is in his book Anarchy, State, and Utopia.

BB

P.S.: Butt size per se does not, however, play a prominent role in Nozick's discussion of the case.

BB

I second that, BB!!! What a wonderful conversation!!

I did my senior high school thesis on Camus. You just made me smile, big time 'Neato! Thanks!! I think I will have to run to the library and reread some of those books again. (in my copious free time!)

Well, what was HE thinking?!?!?!??!?!?!?!

I wouldn't choose the experience over all, but the availability to go back and forth at will would be nice.

I will check out that link, fun!
Thanks

we cross-posted e-beth!

Speaking of not using my time more efficiently, I'm running out the door to take C-Dog to violin.....Right........NOW.........

great conversation, everyone!

Actually, at age 6 what I think was going on was an exploration of how he could or could not control "reality"

'cause I do think it's all about our *interaction* with said "reality"

Funny story about convertibles and body parts *ahem* when he was 3.5. He had just decided to be done with diapers, saw a car go by and asked "mom, a convertible is something that changes, right?" "Yep" said I. "Mom! my *ahem* is a convertible!" and I had to agree with him even as I tried not to drive off the road in a laughing fit.

OH. My. It took me a second read through to get that one!!! That is classic and I hope you have it written down somewhere!

BD: I LOVED reading Nozick back in my college days! I'd forgotten all about him until you mentioned him.

I wonder if I have his book still lying around somewhere...

Yes, I'm a recovering English major, with a phil & religion double-minor. Bring Buddhism and H.D. into this conversation, and I'd be in intellectual heaven!!!

(And if anyone knows H.D. and likes her, I may literally jump up and down in front of my computer!)