Try 'brainstorming' with interesting psychological experiments

Philosophical concepts have historically been 'sleepy' and 'headache' to some extent. And to help "harm the brain", they are illustrated by experiments, specific cases. But even when doing so, the results are not quite good.

The psychological experiments below may make many people 'sleepless' thinking too much.

1. Prisoner Dilemma (Prisoner's Dilemma)

This theory is called 'prisoner dilemma' - a classic example of Game theory. The game content is as follows, two offenders A and B were arrested, but the police did not have evidence. The police will interrogate each person individually and give them 2 choices: stay silent or plead guilty.

If A pleaded guilty that B kept silent, A would be free and guilty. Similarly, when B pleaded guilty and A kept silent - B was free, A was sentenced to 10 years in prison. If they both plead guilty, they will be granted leniency with a lighter penalty - 2 years in prison. If both keep silent, both will be sentenced to 1 year imprisonment. The time limit for making a decision is one night.

The latch pattern problem is that A and B will not be able to communicate, that is, they cannot be complicit, the person does not know what the other person chooses. We will not be able to make a 'right choice' without information.

In this case, the ideal choice would be that both keep quiet to enjoy the lowest sentence, but all options make insiders think 'I must plead guilty.'

The purpose of this experiment is to show the role of information. We cannot make the right choice when not fully informed, also known as 'information gap'.

This experiment is also referred to broader subjects such as social science - economics, politics, sociology . It is unclear how others are, but there are at least two prisoners who will have to lose sleep when attending Join this experiment.

2. Experiment with 'experience machine'

This experiment was done by researcher Robert Nozick and it posed a big question about the possibility of a reality of the famous film 'Matrix'. In the movie 'Matrix' , humans were dominated by machines and lived in a computer-generated 'virtual' world.

Philosopher Nozick has put forward the case that if there is a 'skill transfer machine' , are they capable of transmitting any necessary knowledge or experience.

This machine is perfect, it can stimulate the brain enough for people to think and feel anything. But the real life of man is only in a machine. And the question is, do you want to be connected to that machine, live a pre-programmed life and don't know all it's just a virtual world?

Basically, there are many good reasons to connect to a computer and live a virtual life. After all, every person in the world is destined for an ideal life but everyday life is filled with fatigue in work, study and labor. So for many people, there is no reason to refuse a perfect life even if it is a creation.

But what is the problem if we don't have the 'real' experience that comes from reality or a new feeling when we don't know the future? Through this experiment, the philosopher Nozick tried to make people realize, even if there was such a machine, they would choose to live real life, instead of connecting with it.

3. Experiment with "lost train"

Scholar Philippa Foot has really made many people 'dizzy' when making psychological tests related to this 'moral category' . Imagine a train being lost and traveling at a speed . rocket, and you are the driver of the rail transport.

You can transfer trains to either rail A and B. Rail A has 5 people, and rail B has one person. The question is whether you will leave the train or the train on the railroad track B? In other words, will you sacrifice 1 to save 5 people, or vice versa?

Utilitarianists are always looking for ways to maximize benefits, in other words most of us will choose to sacrifice one person to save 5. However, many people disagree when you cut off the legitimate rights of a person for the benefit of five others.

But a more realistic hypothesis is put forward, if you know 5 people on the railroad track A are criminals, mafia, thugs, or social predators . how would you choose? ?

This experiment shows the complexity in the moral category when we have to choose to "kill a person" or "leave them dead". 'True' or 'wrong' is not as simple as we think.

4. Experimental spider in urinal

This experiment has a starting point from Thomas Nagel's essay: 'Born, die, and the meaning of life'. It poses problems of non-courage and the meaning of life.

Thomas Nagel came up with his essay idea when he saw a spider living in the urinal at the men's restroom at Princeton University (USA) - where he taught. He felt that the life of the spider was so bad, he was "watered with holy water" every day and it seemed he didn't like it.

In his mind, he thought, maybe this was the spider's habitat, but in fact, the spider was trapped in the urinal and could not go out even if he wanted to. So one day, he decided to free the spider with a towel and put him on the floor. But the spider just stood there without moving even though it had an impact outside. The next day, Nagel found the spider in that position but died.

As can be seen, Nagel took action to show sympathy, wanting to rescue the spider, giving him the opportunity to enjoy life outside the toilet, but in reality it was not. The final result he received was the dead spider, which meant he had harmed the spider.

The 'headache ' of this experiment is that it forces us to think about the quality and meaning of life, not just of animals but of humans. The question is how to know what people 'really' want?

Is life now 'really' bringing good things to yourself - like a spider living in urine and are we completely satisfied with that? This raises a question for the actions of life, even the government and government policies. Although the goal is good, that does not mean that the results will be good, good intentions, but may cause unforeseen harm.