Abstract
In the last seven years, philosophers have discussed the topic of transformative experiences. In this paper, we contribute to a crucial issue that is currently under-researched: transformative experiences' influence on cognitive modelling. We argue that cognitive modelling can be operationalized as affective forecasting, and we compare transformative and non-transformative experiences with respect to the ability of affective forecasting. Our finding is that decision-makers’ performance in cognitively modelling transformative experiences does not systematically differ from decision-makers’ performance in cognitively modelling non-transformative experiences. This claim stands in strict opposition to L.A. Paul’s main argument.
Highlights
As our argument stands and falls with the operationalization of cognitive modelling as affective forecasting, we demonstrate its validity
We knew very little about the connection between cognitive modelling and transformative experiences
We did not yet know if Paul is correct in claiming that transformative experiences pose special problems for the ability of cognitive modelling
Summary
L.A. Paul’s seminal book, Transformative Experience (2014), has proven immensely influential in both academic and non-academic discussions. Central to the philosophical research is the concept of transformative experience, that is, an experience which is both epistemically and personally transformative. An epistemically transformative experience teaches you something that you could not have learned without having that specific type of experience. Having the experience of being a parent, for instance, may be the only way to know what it is like to be a parent. An experience that is personally transformative changes one’s core preferences. Being a mother or a father can change some of one’s most fundamental preferences. Being a parent is a transformative experience, and the choice of whether to have a child is a transformative decision
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