Is Happiness in the Head?

Abstract

This paper examines the philosophical implications of Nozick’s thought experiment, specifically focusing on the assumption that most people would not want to be plugged into the experience machine. I present an “inverted” experience machine scenario in order to argue that this assumption is incorrect and that the scenario raises important philosophical questions about our purported unwillingness to be plugged in. The paper concludes that the “inverted” experience machine scenario is compatible with the central thesis of hedonism and other internalist theories of well-being, and provides strong support for the idea that happiness is truly in the head.