But that’s not the claim in the OP; the claim is that, somehow, knowingly choosing a guaranteed painful death (when it would be trivial to avoid it) is the correct choice, in this scenario.
And that’s just crazy.
Like I’ve said before, it’s not about which action to take, it’s about which strategy to have. It’s obvious right-boxing gives the most utility in this specific scenario only, but that’s not what it’s about.
It’s obvious right-boxing gives the most utility in this specific scenario only, but that’s not what it’s about.
I reject this. If Right-boxing gives the most utility in this specific scenario, then you should Right-box in this specific scenario. Because that’s the scenario that—by construction—is actually happening to you.
In other scenarios, perhaps you should do other things. But in this scenario, Right is the right answer.
I reject this. If Right-boxing gives the most utility in this specific scenario, then you should Right-box in this specific scenario. Because that’s the scenario that—by construction—is actually happening to you.
In other scenarios, perhaps you should do other things. But in this scenario, Right is the right answer.
And this is the key point. It seems to me impossible to have a decision theory that right-boxes in Bomb but still does as well as FDT does in all other scenarios.
Utility is often measured in dollars. If I had created the Bomb scenario, I would have specified life/death in terms of dollars as well. Like, “Life is worth $1,000,000 to you.” That way, you can easily compare the loss of your life to the $100 cost of Right-boxing.
Like I’ve said before, it’s not about which action to take, it’s about which strategy to have. It’s obvious right-boxing gives the most utility in this specific scenario only, but that’s not what it’s about.
Why? Why is it not about which action to take?
I reject this. If Right-boxing gives the most utility in this specific scenario, then you should Right-box in this specific scenario. Because that’s the scenario that—by construction—is actually happening to you.
In other scenarios, perhaps you should do other things. But in this scenario, Right is the right answer.
And this is the key point. It seems to me impossible to have a decision theory that right-boxes in Bomb but still does as well as FDT does in all other scenarios.
It’s about which strategy you should adhere to. The strategy of right-boxing loses you $100 virtually all the time.
If it’s about utility, then specify it in terms of utility, not death or dollars.
Utility is often measured in dollars. If I had created the Bomb scenario, I would have specified life/death in terms of dollars as well. Like, “Life is worth $1,000,000 to you.” That way, you can easily compare the loss of your life to the $100 cost of Right-boxing.