User DeletedJun 22, 2023

Box A has $1,000,000. Box B is opaque and its contents depend on a machine that predicts the future... (Title has not enough space space, Question is in text below.)

https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/125970

Box A has $1,000,000. Box B is opaque and its contents depend on a machine that predicts the future... (Title has not enough space, Question is in text below.) - Divisions by zero

If the machine predicts that you will take both Boxes A and B, Box B will be empty. But if the machine predicts that you will take Box B only, then Box B will contain $1,000,000,000. The machine has already done it’s prediction and the contents of box B has already been set. Which box/boxes do you take? To reiterate, you choices are: -Box A and B -Box B only (“Box A only” is not an option because no one is that stupid lol) Please explain your reasoning. My answer is: ::: spoiler spoiler I mean I’d choose Box B only, I’d just gamble on the machine being right. If the machine is wrong, I’ll break that thing. ::: ----- This is based on Newcomb’s Paradox (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcomb’s_paradox [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcomb%27s_paradox]), but I increased the money to make it more interesting.

Show threadgk99Jun 22, 2023

The machine has already done it's prediction and the contents of box B has already been set. Which box/boxes do you take?

If my choices don't matter and the boxes are predetermined, what point is there to only taking one box? The machine already made its choice and filled the boxes, so taking both boxes is always the correct answer. Either I get $1,000,000 if the machine thought I would take both, or I get $1,001,000,000 if it didn't. This is a false dilemma, there is never a reason to take just one box.

Show threadUser DeletedJun 23, 2023

This isn't a false dillemma. Imagine if the way the machine predicts is by copying your brain and putting it in a simulated reality, then the copy of you gets asked to choose which boxes to take, the exact same way and be given the exact same information. Under this assumption, the machine could predict with 100% accuracy what the real you would've chosen.

How do you know you are even the real you. You could just be the machine's simulation of the real you.

There is a dilemma and the dilemma is about how much you want to trust the machine.

Show threadFlowVoid

If you are a simulation, then your choice doesn't matter. You will never get any real benefit from the boxes.

But if your choice doesn't matter, then it's not worth considering. Only the remaining possibility, that you are not a simulation, is worth considering.

Jun 23, 2023 at 6:29amWeb