A new paradox

John K Clark (johnkc@well.com)
Mon, 9 Dec 1996 23:05:14 -0800 (PST)


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It's called Newcomb's paradox and is a a good example of the limits to self
knowledge, I can't predict what I'd do. I hope my mind is constructed in such
a way that I'd resist temptation and only take box A . The only justification
I could give myself is that it's as logical as the other choice, I hope that
would be convincing enough for me but I'm not sure.

Minds can be put into 3 categories based on their construction.

1) Those who pick only box A and get a million dollars.

2) Those who pick box A and B and get a lousy thousand dollars.

3) Those who think they will pick box A, but once they walk into that room
they will reason that Omega has already made his choice and so they might
as well pick both boxes. These poor souls also lose out on the big bucks.

I think I'm in the first category but perhaps not.

John K Clark johnkc@well.com

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