factual

Anesthetic That Erases Pain Memory Thought Experiment

A thought experiment about an anesthetic that doesn't block pain during surgery but only erases the memory of it opens onto the paradox of personal identity: if you forget the suffering completely, then arguably you are no more suffering than when you contemplate someone else being tortured, since whether you remain the same person who suffered depends on psychological continuity.

factualpending

Speaker

Richard Dawkins

Evidence Quote

somebody made it what to me was a horrific suggestion that when you have a certain kind of anesthetic... it doesn't actually stop you feeling the pain it just makes you forget it

Source

174 - Life MindMaking Sense with Sam Harris
Created: 6/14/2026, 2:37:27 AM

My Notes

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