Here is a little mental experiment for all of you. Wikipedia lists Gregory Kavka's mental experiment thusly: The question at hand is can you possibly "intend" to do something horrible even if you know you do not have to? Moreover, how would you prove that you actually intended something without doing it? -BlkBks
Funny question since I actually did intend to take a toxin that would have made me ill for an entire weekend. I fully intended. Though, I have a good deal more proof than mere thought that pointed to my intention, which in the hypothesis, we don't have. I did change my mind, despite all my intent. Next weekend will be better for it.
Many a Friday in my younger daze My friends and I enthusiastically set about imbibing toxins that at very least made us feel ill for at least a half day following if not the entire rest of the weekend to some degree. That ill feeling was commonly known as a "hangover" and the toxins were known by names like whiskey, vodka, rum, beer, etc..
Yeah, sure we've all been there. But what about straight out pain. Not a hangover. Think being bitten by a Black Widow spider and no recreative plusses, beside the million. How would you prove you had intention and could you, knowing that you did not have to go through with it? -BlkBks
You can easily intend to..... But it is impossible to intend to if you intend to change your mind. I would gladly drink an uncomfortable but harmless concoction, and not back out, for a million dollars. I can't see a reason to bitch out, it would probably be the most well paid day's work I'd ever do, I could give up one day to be able to pay through the end of college for me and several friends, and a car, besides.....
I've had hangovers that where much worse than a black widow bite..... Curling up on the bathroom floor, dry heaves, getting down to that thick acidic green/yellow bile at the bottom of your stomach, having to drink water that you know you'll throw up in seconds, to help wash out your stomach and make the further puking less painful and acidic... Having to drink water after that, just to have something to hurl, because the dry heaves hurt worse.... I think I've already one-upped anyone to take OP's "challenge" :sunny: Incidentally, I no longer drink.....
Some interesting responses. Not if you intend to change your mind. That's certainly true. It self-defeats any attempt at intending anything. But could you intend to drink it, knowing you didn't have to...later back out and still earn the cash? Perhaps if you weren't told that you didn't have to drink it... But after being told that doesn't it screw your chances? But can you prove an intention with a lie detector? Also, quite off-topic, I have been bitten by a Black Widow, which is why I used the example. In twenty-eight years, I've never felt pain like that before or since and it lasted two straight days and on the third I couldn't stand or hold anything. So that was on hell of a fucking hangover you had there. No wonder you don't drink. PS: I also agree. Once assured it was harmless and had no lasting effects. I would take it. You would naturally have to have an intention to drink it, if you indeed, willingly drank it. And yeah, for a million. I'd do that. -BlkBks
Putting all the inaccuracies with lie detectors in the real world aside, I would say yes it could hypothetically prove intention in this hypothetical situation. The lie detector would be measuring whether the person is trying to deceive the billionaire to just get the money or if they actually intend to go through with taking the toxin to get the money.
I am testing this experiment in a real world scenario. My Kavka Toxin analog is something truly horrific and disgusting...possibly life-threatening(if the media is to be believed). I have a can of Four Loco grape. I paid for it, which shows intent, but does it prove anything? I don't have a lie detector handy and I really do not wish to drink it as no one will pay a cool million for it. But I can think of no other way. *pops top* See, at this point, I can't really picture the intent. When does the intent form? Did it form when I bought this? When I opened it? I'm putting it to my lips... SON OF A BITCH!!! ...tastesfuckingdisgusting -BlkBks
*EDIT* Christ this stuff is foul. Upon actually drinking this, I have vowed to buy myself a video game or something nice for doing this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJyaACQaLYQ"]Honest 4 Loko Commercial - YouTube But anyway...drinking is the best way to establish intent, imho. -BlkBks
