I agree that a “life and the severe repercussions of breaking your precommitment or wallet and the possible benefits from the precommitment of sacrificing yourself” decision, as opposed to a “life or wallet” decision with no possible benefits from such precommitments, is one way a human agent might end up choosing scenario B over scenario A even when mugged. (It’s not the only one, but as you say, it’s a typical one in the real world.)
If you let me know how I could have worded my original hypothetical to not exclude options like that, I would appreciate the guidance. I certainly didn’t mean to exclude them (or the other possibilities).
do you understand how a rational agent might prefer B?
to
do you understand how a society of rational agents might want to create a framework of enforceable precommitments that incentivizes B to a point such that P1, when being mugged, will prefer B?
For example, if anyone who gave up a wallet later received a death sentence for doing so, the loss of life would be factored out—in effect, being mugged would become a death sentence regardless of your choice, in which case it’d be much easier hanging on to your purse for the good of the many. (Even if society killing you otherwise could be construed as having a slightly alienating effect.)
I agree that a “life and the severe repercussions of breaking your precommitment or wallet and the possible benefits from the precommitment of sacrificing yourself” decision, as opposed to a “life or wallet” decision with no possible benefits from such precommitments, is one way a human agent might end up choosing scenario B over scenario A even when mugged. (It’s not the only one, but as you say, it’s a typical one in the real world.)
If you let me know how I could have worded my original hypothetical to not exclude options like that, I would appreciate the guidance. I certainly didn’t mean to exclude them (or the other possibilities).
Maybe change
to
For example, if anyone who gave up a wallet later received a death sentence for doing so, the loss of life would be factored out—in effect, being mugged would become a death sentence regardless of your choice, in which case it’d be much easier hanging on to your purse for the good of the many. (Even if society killing you otherwise could be construed as having a slightly alienating effect.)
Edited accordingly. Thanks.