Essay 33 - Thought Experiments

“Thought experiment” sounds like an oxymoron. That is the two words cannot go together without being contradictory. After all, experiments involve the material world and thought experiments are, well, thoughts. But surprisingly, thought experiments are not at all uncommon in science or in just intellectually probing an idea.

Perhaps the most famous thought experiment was conducted by Albert Einstein when he tried to envision what it would be like to run along next to a photon of light. Clearly this is impossible. He could not see a photon much less run alongside of it at the speed of light. Yet it provided insights that helped him to develop his understanding of relativity.

You can conduct similar but more simple thought experiments as you explore alternative identities. Imagine yourself as a celebrity or a pauper or a business executive or a politician. Imagine yourself as having a good-looking boyfriend or girlfriend. Imagine your self being rich. Imagine whatever you think you might like.

Then imagine all the good things that this new you could enjoy. Let’s take rich because it is easy. If you are rich, you could drive a much nicer car, live in a much nicer house, perhaps have a place at the beach. No more worrying about paying bills or retirement.

Next imagine all the downsides. People would always be wanting money from you – charities, friends, relatives that you did not know you have. You would have the burden of managing your life as a business. And who could you trust? What if you lost it all?

If the good things far outweigh the bad things, then this identity might be worth exploring further. If not, then this new identity is not for you. Forget it and move on.

This essay is 296 words long and the audio is just short of 2 1/2 minutes.