Happiness and the Experience Machine

By Paivi Conway and Martin Davies

Before we discuss the experience machine, we need to first discuss the underlying concepts surrounding obtaining happiness. Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher during the Classical period who is now considered one of the fathers of Western philosophy, examines how to achieve eudaimonia. This word often translates to happiness, but a closer translation would be ‘human flourishing’. As Haybron quotes Aristotle in his book, Happiness: A Very Short Introduction, “... Eudaimonia can be given a rather striking definition: it is a complete life of virtuous activity.” Aristotle, however did not mean virtue by moral character, but through excellent activity. Aristotle emphasizes the importance of virtue and moral character, but he does not ignore the importance of material goods such as friends, wealth, and power to achieve a life that is eudaimonic. By the lack of true, excellent activity, Aristotle would not have advocated for the experience machine.

The second philosopher needing to be discussed before we introduce the experience machine is René Descartes. René Descartes was a 17th-century French philosopher who discussed and rationalized the notion of reality. In his book Meditations, Descartes introduces the argument that as humans, we do not know what exactly is reality. All that we know is that our minds exist. Our senses could be deceiving us. This is to say, one does not know if the person beside them is legitimately there or are our senses deceiving us. Thus, Descartes introduces the mind and body dilemma, giving way to the concept of the experience machine.

Now that we have the background on how the mind and body are affected by happiness, we can introduce the experience machine. Robert Nozick, a twentieth century philosopher, who proposed in his book, Anarchy, State, and Utopia, of an experience machine that can stimulate any reality you desire just by imagining it. He wrote this to counter the hedonistic theory that pleasure is the ultimate source of happiness. Which is more desirable? “Fake” experiences, or an authentic life? How can we be happy if we are only experiencing happiness, as opposed to doing things that make us happy?

While we have not gotten that close to a real experience machine, we will discuss two different examples of the experience machine being used in the media, The Matrix and Black Mirror episode “San Junipero”. One gives the individual a choice on “plugging in”, while the other is against the individual’s will. But both of these examples provide the audience with the concept of “plugging in” to a reality without pain and suffering.

Below is a trailer of Black Mirror episode “San Junipero” and The Matrix, just in case you are unfamiliar with these two shows.


In this Black Mirror universe, dying patients are given the option before they pass away to “plug in” to this infinite experience that allows them to live the life they’ve always wanted forever or to simply pass into the void. The main protagonists, Kelly and Yorkie, share different views on the virtual reality and must both make the decision before it’s too late.

The next example of an experience machine is the 1999 film The Matrix.

The Matrix is set in 2199 in the last human city on Earth: Zion. Computers have taken over human existence and forced them into living in a virtual reality. In this reality, the humans are “plugged in” to live a pleasurable, peaceful life. Yet in reality, the real world has become desolate. The film follows a man named Neo, who is shown the truth about his existence by a rebel group. This existence is followed by humans attempting to defeat the machines that are controlling them within this virtual reality.

The experience machine is a futuristic yet controversial concept that is leaking its way into the modern era. While technology is advancing enough that an experience tank is within our grasp, we must decide for ourselves whether or not we would plug into this way of life to achieve our happiness. Aristotle was decisive with his notion of function is the only way to achieve eudaimonia. On the other hand, Rene Descartes suggests that the only real aspect of this world is your mind. How we perceive ourselves, our reality, and our happiness leads us to a multitude of moral questions regarding our coexistence with technology and the future of our reality and happiness.

Quiz Questions:

What is Aristotelian view on how to obtain happiness?

In the Matrix, once the “plugged in” realized their predicament, how did they perceive the world they were in?

In Nozick’s argument, would the person “plugged in” have control over the images and experiences they encounter?

How does the hedonistic theory coincide with the notion of being “plugged in” to an experiment machine?

Discussion Questions:

Would you choose to be “plugged in” to an experiment machine?

Are we more than the mind?

If we did not know we were in an experience machine, could we experience happiness?

Would you choose to go to a place like San Junipero when you die?