The film The Boys from Brazil, about Nazi scientists who raise Hitler clones (thanks to some salvaged DNA) inspired this thought experiment:
Let us suppose, then, that a group of scientists has managed to create an individual—call him Mr Puppet—who, by design, engages in some criminal behavior: say, a murder done during a drug deal gone bad. [p. 1780]
Here is what they say about their thought experiment:
Yes, he is as rational as other criminals, and, yes, it was his desires and beliefs that produced his actions. But those beliefs and desires were rigged by external forces, and that is why, intuitively, he deserves our pity more than our moral condemnation. . . . what is the real difference between us and Mr Puppet? One obvious difference is that Mr Puppet is the victim of a diabolical plot whereas most people, we presume, are not. But does this matter? The thought that Mr Puppet is not fully responsible depends on the idea that his actions were externally determined. . . . But the fact that these forces are connected to the desires and intentions of evil scientists is irrelevant, is it not? What matters is only that these forces are beyond Mr Puppet’s control, that they’re not really his. [p. 1780]
Source:
Philosopher Daniel Dennett’s Book Intuition Pumps
