I know that this idea might sound a little weird at first, so just hear me out please?
A couple weeks ago I was pondering decision problems where a human decision maker has to choose between two acts that lead to two “incomparable” outcomes. I thought, if outcome A is not more preferred than outcome B, and outcome B is not more preferred than outcome A, then of course the decision maker is indifferent between both outcomes, right? But if that’s the case, the decision maker should be able to just flip a coin to decide. Not only that, but adding even a tiny amount of extra value to one of the outcomes should always make that outcome be preferred. So why can’t a human decision maker just make up their mind about their preferences between “incomparable” outcomes until they’re forced to choose between them? Also, if a human decision maker is really indifferent between both outcomes, then they should be able to know that ahead of time and have a plan for deciding, such as flipping a coin. And, if they’re really indifferent between both outcomes, then they should not be regretting and/or doubting their decision before an outcome even occurs regardless of which act they choose. Right?
I thought of the idea that maybe the human decision maker has multiple utility functions that when you try to combine them into one function some parts of the original functions don’t necessarily translate well. Like some sort of discontinuity that corresponds to “incomparable” outcomes, or something. Granted, it’s been a while since I’ve taken Calculus, so I’m not really sure how that would look on a graph.
I had read Yudkowsky’s “Thou Art Godshatter” a couple months ago, and there was a point where it said “one pure utility function splintered into a thousand shards of desire”. That sounds like the “shards of desire” are actually a bunch of different utility functions.
I’d like to know what others think of this idea. Strengths? Weaknesses? Implications?
“incomparable” outcomes—multiple utility functions?
I know that this idea might sound a little weird at first, so just hear me out please?
A couple weeks ago I was pondering decision problems where a human decision maker has to choose between two acts that lead to two “incomparable” outcomes. I thought, if outcome A is not more preferred than outcome B, and outcome B is not more preferred than outcome A, then of course the decision maker is indifferent between both outcomes, right? But if that’s the case, the decision maker should be able to just flip a coin to decide. Not only that, but adding even a tiny amount of extra value to one of the outcomes should always make that outcome be preferred. So why can’t a human decision maker just make up their mind about their preferences between “incomparable” outcomes until they’re forced to choose between them? Also, if a human decision maker is really indifferent between both outcomes, then they should be able to know that ahead of time and have a plan for deciding, such as flipping a coin. And, if they’re really indifferent between both outcomes, then they should not be regretting and/or doubting their decision before an outcome even occurs regardless of which act they choose. Right?
I thought of the idea that maybe the human decision maker has multiple utility functions that when you try to combine them into one function some parts of the original functions don’t necessarily translate well. Like some sort of discontinuity that corresponds to “incomparable” outcomes, or something. Granted, it’s been a while since I’ve taken Calculus, so I’m not really sure how that would look on a graph.
I had read Yudkowsky’s “Thou Art Godshatter” a couple months ago, and there was a point where it said “one pure utility function splintered into a thousand shards of desire”. That sounds like the “shards of desire” are actually a bunch of different utility functions.
I’d like to know what others think of this idea. Strengths? Weaknesses? Implications?