As philosophy concerns itself with 'truth', consider the following experiment. If we were to arrange an experiment where the respondent was hooked up to a mild or moderate electrical shock and shocked each time they told the truth, would the test subject avoid or fear telling the truth over time?
How many people, due to some external reaction or response, fear telling the truth in your estimation?
2007-08-14 16:55:12 · 15 answers · asked by guru 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I think some missed the point that there is negative conditioning that may override personal, ethical or moral constraints.
You can lead a horse to water....
2007-08-14 17:30:03 · update #1
Truth is subjective, negative experiences with engaging truth does not lead to lying, it leads to delusion.
2007-08-14 17:03:12 · answer #1 · answered by in pain 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I would assume so.
I would think over time the test subjects brain, would teach itself all truths to be a lie. Essentially rewire itself to have the opposite effect (no shock).
Essentially believing the truth to be a lie.
I couldn't put an estimate on the number of people, due to some external reaction or response, fear telling the truth. I would think all of us at one time or another have done it. most likely to protect a friend.
2007-08-14 18:22:26 · answer #2 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most plausible answer is yes.
Brain perceives situations differently. If the subject was criticized and judged socially every time they told the truth, the results would be weaker. Pain elicits a direct response because it connects to you directly. Pain and sensations experienced in physical realm are a matter of impulses, therefore such factors cut through morals, conscience and thoughts and reach the self.
Subjects have been known to wear elastic bracelets or other similar tools on their hands to get rid of unwanted feelings / thoughts / actions. The outer stimulus of pain that impacts your mind can provoke a strong enough reaction to form a reflex and prevent the continuity of the habit. After they escape the circumstances where they're exposed to pain, the logical thing to do for those individuals would be to return to the habit. But even if logic tells them they're not in danger, the reflex is already formed.
2007-08-14 19:11:28 · answer #3 · answered by Cheshire Riddle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I won't get points for this but,
WHY THE HELL WOULD SOMEONE SHOCK SOMEONE FOR TELLING THE TRUTH?
It makes much more sence to shock someone for telling a lie doesn't, that way they tell the truth more, and avoid lieing.
I know it's an theoritical experiment, but surely everyone here sees the flaw.
I guess if I was to give a educational guess to the reactions of the participants, would be the same if they were to be getting shocked for telling the lie. They would eventually start lieing to prevent pain.
Interesting question. Not very realistic, but still intersting. I think I will star it.
2007-08-14 17:09:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I test with the reality each and all of the time. i think you recognize using the term as a euphemism for mendacity. actually in spite of the shown fact that, i think of you would be able to desire to truly justify 'experimenting' around concepts which you recognize to be real, with a view to learn new truths, develop convictions etc. extraordinarily plenty all verbal substitute is experimentation with the reality in this sense, as each and each time you talk, you're utilising your person parameters and good judgment to place across a message, a feeling, theory technique etc. it incredibly is somewhat a non-particular term, yet a superb type of 'reality' merits to be experimented on IMO.
2016-12-15 15:34:47 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is rooted in people from toddlerhood to lie. When youre young, and you do something bad, you need to learn. How do most parents teach children? Negative reinforcement. Spankings, timeouts, etc. You learn from as early as you can speak, to try and avoid punishment, one way that can be accomplished is by lying. My son is 4, and as much as i try to reward good behavior vs punishing the bad, i cant always do that, if he is in danger, he gets a punishment to prevent him repeating the action. He has learned, however, to place blame on others. He is an only child, but he has even attempted to blame our cats for something i KNOW he did. It is engrained in all humans to avoid the negative, so until every parent from infancy on only uses positive reinforcement (which will never happen), people will grow up liars.
2007-08-14 17:18:21 · answer #6 · answered by Jessica 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
fear is not only the main reason people EVER lie....but the reason most will continue to do so for the rest of their lives.
fear is the root of many evils along with pride and anger...but those are just fear's little brothers.
it is hard work to transition the world's shock/jerk reaction to truth from a 'painful' reality to a freedom of spirit.....but it's worth it.
2007-08-14 17:12:37 · answer #7 · answered by someone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is my experience that external reaction aside, most people fear telling the truth because they don't like hearing the truth.
2007-08-14 17:06:08 · answer #8 · answered by Temple 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think a lot of people don't like telling the truth, or hearing it. I personally like to be as honest as i can, tactful,, but honest.
2007-08-14 17:17:36 · answer #9 · answered by IslandOfApples 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you a police officer. Truth not by force but by knowledge
2007-08-14 17:04:02 · answer #10 · answered by Muthu S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋