What movie/book did the "pleasure box" philosophical concept originate from?

Question

When I was in my high-school English class I remember my teacher briefly bringing up a story where a "pleasure box" was invented.  The box was free to use, and users who entered enjoyed immense pleasure, with enough variation that its perceived intensity never lessened with time.  After 12 hours in the box, the user was placed on life-support until they either chose to leave, or died.  The question presented was whether, knowing that nobody who entered ever decided to leave, you would choose to enter the box.

Where did this concept originate?

Bob the Warmonger · Accepted Answer

that is similar to a test they did on mice where they connected a electrode to the mouses pleasure center and placed it in a room with food and a button. The button would activate the electrode and the mouse would get a rush. The mouse would not eat and then die because he would continually hit the button.

answer 1)right now no 2) just before I died...maybe 

would you want to be the mouse?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasure_center

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinner_boxes

post in psychology for more detailed answers  


behaviorism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behaviorism

pavlov

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Pavlov

micheal crichton's novel (and movie) based on this is..

The Terminal Man 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Terminal_Man

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072267/

(there may be a moral issue here but it is not defined that well)

What movie/book did the "pleasure box" philosophical concept originate from?

1 Antwort