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Fanon Alert! This article contains tribute art, spin-off fiction, theories, reference and community material created by fans inspired by the show. It is by definition non-canon, but generally distinct from intentionally fake hoaxes or humorous fan parody material.

Theory

The Island is the setting for a social experiment being conducted by the DHARMA Initiative with a possible goal toward Utopian Social Engineering. The castaways are subjects of this experiment, as is Desmond.

Pro

• The DHARMA Initiative was a social science project; the Swan Orientation Film mentions the realization of a huge social science project.
• The setting in The Swan is very similar to a "Skinner Box"
  • The Pearl also appears to have been a form of Skinner Box.
  • The polar bear cages in which Kate and Sawyer were kept were also Skinner boxes.
  • B. F. Skinner is even mentioned by name in the Swan orientation film.
• "The Others" seem to be scientists (see episode "Maternity Leave" who disguise as savages to make the survivors believe they are really stranded).
• "The Others" seem to have a great interest in observing the survivors (for example by using Ethan as a spy).
• A lot on the island works with artificially generated fear:
  • a mysterious sickness nobody has ever seen and an even more mysterious vaccine against that illness.
  • A completely mysterious protocol that is referred to as "Push the Button" and threatens everyone to die if it is not followed.
  • Some sort of artificial monster or security system that spreads fear to most of the people (except Locke and Eko).
  • The Others taking people away from the group, so every one fears to be next.
• The Swan as well as the Medical Station had modern equipment as well as equipment from the 70's
• The survivors seem to be connected in some sort prior to The Crash

Cons

• This theory was called into serious doubt by head writer Damon Lindelof in a New York Times interview published on May 25, 2006, in which he said: "People who believe that they're in purgatory or that they're subjects of an experiment are going to start reassessing those theories based on the fact that we are literally showing you the outside world."
  • Although, the statement that people will "start reassessing" a theory is not a flat denial of that theory nor does showing that the outside world still exists debunk the Social Experiment Theory as the theory does not require the outside world to have vanished.
• People get killed - so this is either a rather radical experiment or something does not fit in here.
  • However, radical experiments resulting in human deaths are not without historical precedent. In Nazi Germany, for example.
• It does not explain how the Numbers were so pervasive in the Losties' pre-island lives, unless the numbers were chosen from the participant's pre- island lives as another way to get an effect.
• It does not explain the Whispers unless some advanced science or paranormal issues are involved.
• In "Live Together, Die Alone" when Locke refuses to press the button, the result seems to disprove the idea that the island is solely a social experiment. Also, the same episode seemed to confirm that when Desmond didn't press the button, that's what caused the plane to crash.