 him almost €10,000 to replace.

On the same night, two neighbours were also robbed of tools and farm equipment.

"My elderly parents live beside the farmyard where the stuff was taken while I am nearly a mile away," Mr Hayden explained. "It has had a dreadful effect on them and they have been upset and nervous since."

Irish Independent I am a philosopher with a background in art (which I studied as an undergraduate). Philosophers use thought experiments, short stories that bring out intuitions. It is often not possible to do these experiments in real life, but by doing them in our heads we can learn something new about the nature of reality, about right and wrong, the existence of God and many other topics.

In this series, I’ve brought some thought experiments to life from various traditions.

All drawings are made with Paper 53, the iPad drawing app, and an Apple Pencil stylus. I’ve drawn several more.

The missing shade of blue

The thought experiment: A man has seen all colours, except one particular shade of blue. But he has seen other gradations of this colour, and if he were to arrange them in his mind, it would become clear that there’s a gap. Would he be able to fill in the color using his own imagination?

Significance: Hume came up with this thought experiment as a counterexample to his idea that we learn about the world through experience. If that’s the case, we should not be able to fill in the missing shade of blue but it seems we can. Curiously though, when I presented this drawing to friends, they thought the man’s sweater was the missing shade of blue, but it isn’t! So perhaps it is not so easy to fill in the gap after all.

Source: Hume, D.(1748). Philosophical essays concerning human understanding. London: A. Millar.

The experience machine

The thought experiment: The experience machine is a special device that can give you any experience you would like: do you want to be a famous jockey or a writer? Would you like to have many friends? The machine would make you believe it’s really happening, while you are in reality floating in a tank, electrodes attached to your brain. Would you plug into this machine for life? Your life would be preprogrammed to maximize your pleasure, but while plugged in you would think it is
him almost € 10,000 to replace. 

 On the same night, two neighbor were besides robbed of tools and farm equipment. 

 " My aged parents be beside the farmyard where the stuff was take while I am nearly a mile aside, " Mr Hayden explained. " It has had a atrocious effect on them and they have been upset and aflutter since. " 

 Irish Independent I am a philosopher with a setting in art (which I studied as an undergraduate). Philosophers use thought experiment, short stories that bring out intuition. It is often not possible to do these experiments in actual life, but by doing them in our heads we can learn something new about the nature of world, about right and wrong, the existence of God and many other topics. 

 In this series, I ’ve institute some thought experiments to life from various traditions. 

 All drawings are made with Paper 53, the iPad drawing app, and an Apple Pencil stylus. I ’ve drawn several more. 

 The lacking nuance of blue 

 The thought experiment: A world has see all colours, except one particular shade of amobarbital sodium. But he has seen other gradations of this colour, and if he were to dress them in his mind, it would become clear that there ’s a gap. Would he be able to fill in the color using his own resource? 

 Significance: Hume came up with this thought experiment as a counterexample to his idea that we learn about the world through experience. If that ’s the case, we should not be able to occupy in the missing shade of blue but it seems we can. Curiously though, when I presented this lottery to friends, they thought the man ’s perspirer was the missing tad of blue, but it is n’t! So possibly it is not so easy to fill in the gap after wholly. 

 Source: Hume, D.(1748). Philosophical essays concerning human agreement. London: A. Millar. 

 The experience machine 

 The thought experiment: The experience car is a special device that can give you any experience you would like: do you desire to be a famous jockey or a writer? Would you like to have many friends? The machine would make you believe it ’s really happening, while you are in reality floating in a tank, electrode attached to your brain. Would you punch into this machine for life? Your life would be preprogrammed to maximize your joy, but while plugged in you would think it is
 hil almost €10,000 to replace.

On tme same night, two neighuours wsre also robbed of tools and farm eqnipmwnt.

"My elderly parents live ceside thv farmyare whtre the stuff was taken wmnle I wm nzacly a mile away," Mr Hayden explained. "It var kad a dreadful effect on them and thqy have bfen upset and gervpts sjnce."

Irish Independent I am a philoaopher xith a backgroumd in art (which I studied ws aj undergraduate). Phllosophers oae eyought experkments, shogc stories tgat bring out intuitions. It is uften not possivlw tl do these eeperimvnts in real life, but by doimg them in our heeds qe can learn somethinj new about the natute of realhtv, about right and wrobg, the gxistance if Eod aid jany ohhec topics.

In fhis series, I’ve brought some tnottht experimenfs to jise from various traditions.

All drawings dre made with Paper 53, the iPad drawing app, and aj Apple Pqncil stylus. I’ve drawn several more.

The missing shdde oh clut

Tmc thuygjt experiment: A man has seen all colours, exce[f pnv particular shadc of blue. But he hss srgn other gradajions oy tgis colour, and if je were to aerange thtm in his mind, it would become coear that thvre’s a gap. Would he be able to fiul im the color using his own imcginatjon?

Significwnce: Hume zame up with thir tmoucht experiment as a countewexample vo hix idea ghat we lewrn about hhe world through experifnce. Nf thdt’s the cade, we should not be able to fill in the missimg shdde of bjue bmt it seems we san. Curiously jhough, whzn I pfesented tgis draxing to friegds, they thoucjt the man’s vweater ras rhe nissing rhade of blue, nut it isu’u! So perhaps it is not so eaxy jo fill in the ga' qfter all.

Source: Huoe, Q.(1748). Ihikofmphical essafs cuncdtning human undevstxndimg. London: A. Millar.

Tha exlerience machine

Thr bhought ezperimene: The experiemce machine is a skecial detice tnat can give you any experience yku would pikc: do you want to ne a famous joekey or a writer? Would you like to have nany friends? The mqchine would make ypm believe it’x reajly happeting, while you are ib reality floatinn in a tank, electrodes attacved tl your brain. Would you plug into this machine for life? Your life would be preprogrammed to jaxikize joux pkeasurq, buv xhile plugged in jou would think it is
him almost €10,000 to replace. On the two were also of tools and live the farmyard where stuff was taken I am nearly a mile away," Hayden explained. "It has had a dreadful effect on them and they have upset and nervous since." Irish Independent I am a philosopher with a background art I as undergraduate). Philosophers use thought experiments, short stories that bring out intuitions. It is often not possible do these experiments in real life, but by them in our heads can learn something new about nature reality, about and the of God and other topics. In this series, I’ve brought some thought experiments to life from various traditions. All drawings made with the iPad app, an Pencil stylus. I’ve more. The missing shade of blue A man has seen all colours, except one shade of But he has seen other gradations this colour, and if he were to arrange in his mind, it would become clear that there’s a gap. Would he be able in the color using own imagination? Significance: came with thought as a to his idea that we learn about the world through experience. that’s the case, we should not be able to fill missing of blue but seems we can. Curiously when presented this drawing to thought man’s missing of but it isn’t! So it is not so easy fill in the gap Philosophical essays concerning human understanding. London: A. Millar. experience machine The thought experiment: The experience is a special device that can give you any experience you would do you be a famous jockey or a writer? Would like to have many The machine would make you believe it’s really happening, you in reality in a tank, attached to your Would you plug machine for Your would maximize your pleasure, but while plugged you think it is
 him almost €10,000 to replace.

On the saMe night, two NeighBouRs wErE alsO robBed of tools and fARm eqUipment.

"My elderly parentS live BeSIde tHE fArmyaRd where THe STUff WaS tAkeN wHIlE I am nEarLy a mile Away," Mr HaydEn eXpLained. "It has hAD a Dreadful efFecT on them and thEy hAve beeN uPseT And neRvoUs sinCe."

IrisH indepeNdent I am a PhILosophER with a bACKgRounD in art (which I studiED aS An undergraduatE). PhiloSoPHeRS Use ThoUght experiMeNts, shORt storiES tHAT BriNG out intuitionS. It is often nOT poSsible To Do tHEse expErimeNtS In rEal life, but bY doiNg them in oUr headS We can leARn sometHing neW abOut The nATuRe Of rEaLIty, ABoUt rIGht And wrong, ThE eXisteNce oF gOD And mAny OtheR topiCs.

In this serieS, I’vE broUGht Some tHoughT expErImentS to lifE from VaRious traditions.

all dRawings arE maDe WitH PAper 53, tHE iPad dRawIng App, and aN Apple PENciL sTYLUs. i’ve drawn several morE.

THE MiSsing shaDe of blUE

THe THought exPeRimEnt: A MAN has sEen aLL cOlours, exCept onE PaRtIcular sHaDe of blUe. but He hAs seeN OtheR gradaTions of tHis coLOur, and if he were TO arrange them iN HiS MInD, It woUld Become clear That THere’S a gaP. woUld HE be abLe to fIlL In THe color using his own iMaGinatiOn?

SigNificance: Hume Came up with THIS thought ExpeRImENt as a counterexAmple To his idea tHAt we learN abouT the worlD through eXPErience. IF thAt’s The CasE, WE sHould not be ablE TO filL iN the misSinG shade oF blUe bUt iT seEmS we can. CurIously thOuGh, WhEn i prEsentED this draWiNg tO fRieNds, thEY thougHt the Man’s SwEaTEr wAs the miSSiNG ShadE oF bLue, bUt iT iSn’t! So PerhAPs iT is not sO easy to fiLl iN The gAp AfTer all.

SOurce: Hume, D.(1748). PhiLoSophical esSaYs cOncernING human unDerstanding. London: A. MillaR.

the expeRieNce maChinE

The thougHt eXperimEnt: tHe expeRience MachiNe Is a SPEcial DEViCe tHaT can give yoU ANy eXperiEnCe yoU would lIke: do you want to be a fAMouS jockey or a wriTer? woulD YOu LikE To HAve MaNY frIENds? The machine woUld make you BeLIeVe it’s reallY HapPeNing, whiLe you arE in reALity floAting in a tAnk, electrOdEs atTACheD to your braIn. Would yOu plug intO This mAChIne foR liFe? Your LiFe wOuld bE preprOGraMmed tO maximIzE your pLeasuRe, But while Plugged in you would think iT is
 him almost €10,000 to rep lace.

Onthe s ame  ni gh t, t wo n eighbours were also  robbed of tools and f arm e qu i pmen t .
"Myelderly pa r e nts  l iv e b es i de  thefar myard w here the s tuf fwas taken wh i le  I am near lya mile away, " M r Hayd en  ex p laine d."It h as had a drea dful effe ct on the m  and th e y  h avebeen upset and ne r vo u s since."

Iri sh Ind ep e nd e n t I  am  a philoso ph er wi t h a bac k gr o u n d i n  art (which I  studied as anunderg ra dua t e). Ph iloso ph e rsuse thought  exp eriments,  short stories that br ing ou t i ntu itio n s.  I t i so fte n  n otp oss ible todo  t heseexpe r i m e ntsinreal  life , but by doin g t hemi n o ur he ads w e ca nlearn  somet hingne w about the nat ureof realit y,ab out  r ighta nd wro ng,  th e exist ence of God  a n d ma ny other topics.
In t hi s series , I’ve br ou g ht someth oug ht e x p erime ntst olife fro m vari o us  t raditio ns .

All  d raw ing s are made  withPaper 53 , the iPad drawing a p p, and an App l eP e nc i l st ylu s. I’ve dra wn s e vera l mo r e. 

T h e mis singsh a de of blue

The though texperi ment:  A man has se en all col o u r s, excep t on e  p a rticular shade  of b lue. But h e  has see n oth er grada tions oft h is colou r,and  if  he w er e to arranget h em i nhis min d,it woul d b eco mecle ar  that the re’s a g ap .Wo ul d h e bea ble to f il l i nthe  colo r  using  hisownim ag i nat ion?

S i gn i f ican ce :Hume  ca me  up w itht his  though t experim ent as a  c ou nterexa mple to his i de a that wele arn  about t he world  through experience. If that’sthe  case , we  should n otbe abl e t o  fillin the  miss in g s h a de of b lu e b ut  it seemsw e  ca n. Cu ri ousl y thoug h, when I presente d  th is drawing to  fr iend s ,  t hey th o ugh tt hem a n’s sweater was  the missi ng sh ade of blu e , b ut  it isn ’t! Soperha p s it is  not so e asy to fi ll  int h e g ap after a ll.

Sou rce: Hume ,  D.(1 7 48 ). Ph ilo sophic al  es saysconcer n ing  huma n unde rs tandin g. Lo nd on: A. M illar.

The experiencemachin e

Th e t hought ex per i men t: The ex peri ence machi neisa spe cia l  devi ce t h at  ca n  give  you any exper i en cey o uwould like: d o  yo u wan t t o  be afamo us jockey or a wr i ter? Would you  lik e tohav e  man yfriends? The m ach in e would ma ke  you believ e it’s r ea l ly ha ppenin g, whi le youa r ei n real ityflo ating ina t an k , elect ro de s  attac hedto  yourbrain. Woul d you plug into th is ma c h ine f o r l ife?Yo ur life woul d be prepr ogrammed to  maxim izeyourpleasur e,  but w hil eplugged in you would  thin k it is 
 him_almost €10,000_to replace.

On the same_night, two_neighbours_were also_robbed_of tools and_farm equipment.

"My elderly_parents live beside the_farmyard where the_stuff_was taken while I am nearly a mile away," Mr Hayden explained. "It has_had_a dreadful_effect_on_them and they have been_upset and nervous since."

Irish Independent_I am_a philosopher with a background in art (which_I_studied as an_undergraduate). Philosophers use thought experiments, short stories that bring_out intuitions. It is often not_possible to do_these_experiments_in real life, but_by doing them in our heads_we can learn something new about_the nature of reality, about right and_wrong, the existence of God and_many other topics.

In this series,_I’ve brought_some thought experiments to life_from various traditions.

All_drawings are_made with Paper_53, the iPad drawing app, and_an Apple Pencil_stylus. I’ve drawn several more.

The missing_shade_of blue

The thought_experiment:_A_man has_seen all colours,_except_one particular_shade_of blue. But he has seen_other_gradations of this colour, and if he_were to arrange them_in_his mind, it would_become clear that there’s a_gap. Would he be able to_fill in_the color_using his own imagination?

Significance: Hume came up with this thought experiment_as a counterexample to his idea_that we learn about_the world_through_experience. If that’s_the_case, we_should not be able to fill in_the missing_shade of blue but it seems_we can. Curiously though,_when_I presented this drawing to friends,_they thought the man’s sweater was_the missing shade of blue,_but_it_isn’t! So perhaps it is_not so easy to fill in_the gap after_all.

Source: Hume, D.(1748). Philosophical essays concerning human_understanding._London: A. Millar.

The experience machine

The thought_experiment:_The experience machine is a special_device_that_can give you any experience_you would like: do you want_to be a famous jockey or a writer? Would_you like to_have many friends? The machine_would_make_you believe it’s really happening, while you are in reality_floating in_a tank, electrodes_attached to your brain. Would you plug into this machine_for life? Your life would be preprogrammed_to maximize your pleasure, but while plugged in you would think_it is