From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@harveynewstrom.com)
Date: Sun Mar 08 2009 - 13:40:20 MDT
Mike Dougherty wrote,
> Suppose you are given a choice of (A) being tortured, and then having the
> memory of the torture erased, or (B) not being tortured, but then having a
> false memory of torture programmed into your brain. Our model says that
> after many trials you will consistently choose (A) even if you prefer not
> to
> be tortured.
I would definitely choose B, not being tortured. Memories of past physical
pain do not hurt as much as enduring current physical pain. I have many
memories of past physical pain that were terrible at the time, but don't
bother me at all now. Loading more of these in my head wouldn't bother me a
bit. But enduring real torture would be..., well, torture.
I am always boggled by people's assertion that if you hide something, it
doesn't count. Erasing my memory of torture does not make it OK. The
knowledge that you can hide all evidence of memory of this crime against me
would not encourage me in the least to allow it.
-- Harvey Newstrom <www.HarveyNewstrom.com>
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