If I am being simulated by Omega, then no matter what decision I make I am about to be terminated. Its not like 1 boxing makes the simulated me get to live a full and happy life.
Lets say Omega simulates 1 copy of me, and shows it $100 in box 1. If I have a policy of 1 boxing then that simulation of me 1 boxes, gets terminated (to no benefit to itself), then the real me gets the $100 due to the 1 box policy. If I have a two box policy the simulated me gets $200 before deletion, and the real me gets nothing.
So I agree with the 1 box policy, but at least to me the point of that policy is that it somehow transfers wealth between the simulated me that won’t last much longer and the real me who might actually have a chance to benefit from it. I don’t think the simulation benefits at all in any case.
If the simulated me takes two boxes (for $200), before being deleted then Omega will (for the real trial with the real me) put $0 in each box. This is why Omega is doing the simulation in the first place, to work out what I will do so they can fill the boxes correctly. So the real me gets nothing if the simulated me gets $200. This was my logic.
What! I had the whole thing back to front. In that case you are completely correct and you obviously always two box.
I should have read more carefully. Still I would have preferred the presentation highlighted explicitly that it is the opposite way around than anyone would assume.
Re-reading the initial post, and especially the answer it gives, I am still not sure which problem was intended. The model solution offered seems to only make sense in the setup I thought we had. (Otherwise seeing $100 with an intent to take two boxes would not make us update towards thinking we were simulated).
I am not sure I agree with your stated answer.
If I am being simulated by Omega, then no matter what decision I make I am about to be terminated. Its not like 1 boxing makes the simulated me get to live a full and happy life.
Lets say Omega simulates 1 copy of me, and shows it $100 in box 1. If I have a policy of 1 boxing then that simulation of me 1 boxes, gets terminated (to no benefit to itself), then the real me gets the $100 due to the 1 box policy. If I have a two box policy the simulated me gets $200 before deletion, and the real me gets nothing.
So I agree with the 1 box policy, but at least to me the point of that policy is that it somehow transfers wealth between the simulated me that won’t last much longer and the real me who might actually have a chance to benefit from it. I don’t think the simulation benefits at all in any case.
Wait, why does the real you get nothing? It’s specified you get $200. What am I missing?
If the simulated me takes two boxes (for $200), before being deleted then Omega will (for the real trial with the real me) put $0 in each box. This is why Omega is doing the simulation in the first place, to work out what I will do so they can fill the boxes correctly. So the real me gets nothing if the simulated me gets $200. This was my logic.
Why would Omega put $0 in the second box? The problem statement specifies Omega puts $100 in both boxes if she predicts you will two-box!
What! I had the whole thing back to front. In that case you are completely correct and you obviously always two box.
I should have read more carefully. Still I would have preferred the presentation highlighted explicitly that it is the opposite way around than anyone would assume.
Re-reading the initial post, and especially the answer it gives, I am still not sure which problem was intended. The model solution offered seems to only make sense in the setup I thought we had. (Otherwise seeing $100 with an intent to take two boxes would not make us update towards thinking we were simulated).
Note to future readers: This thread was in response to my original post, in which I mistakenly switched the $0 and $100.
I also wonder whether a different problem was intended.