That is [it is assumed that] the only plausible reason to state a meganumber class high utility is to beat someone elses number.
It’s the only reason that doesn’t cancel out because it’s the only one about which we have any knowledge. The higher the number, the more likely it is that the mugger is playing the “pick the highest number” game. You can imagine scenarios in which picking the highest number has some unknown significance, they cancel out, in the same way as Pascal’s God is canceled by the possibility of contrary gods.
Also why what the mugger says have anythinhg to do how big of a threat the conversation is?
Same question (formally) as why should failure to confirm a theory be evidence against it.
It’s the only reason that doesn’t cancel out because it’s the only one about which we have any knowledge. The higher the number, the more likely it is that the mugger is playing the “pick the highest number” game. You can imagine scenarios in which picking the highest number has some unknown significance, they cancel out, in the same way as Pascal’s God is canceled by the possibility of contrary gods.
Same question (formally) as why should failure to confirm a theory be evidence against it.