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How would you react to James' Automatic Sweetheart?

Asked by TitsMcGhee (8281points) November 11th, 2009

William James first framed the automatic sweetheart question in Pragmatism (1955). Suppose you are deeply in love: Every adoring glance, every gentle caress, every tender sigh you will take as signs of your sweetheart’s love for you; everything she/he does will bespeak a love for you like yours for him/her. Then, one day, you discover she/he is only a machine, cleverly constructed to exhibit tokens of love for you; but she/he is not conscious being but a machine, a simulacrum of a sweetheart. Do you love him/her still?

Note: This was an assignment for my history of psychology class, but it has been turned in. The text is quoted from my assignment sheet. I am interested in what other jellies think, not in getting a response for a homework answer.

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