ITT we discuss cool "paradoxes"

**Reincarnate** · 06-28-2011, 09:11 AM

I'll bring up one:

Newcomb's Paradox:

You've got a demon who, in the past, has been known to be a very accurate predictor. He sets two boxes before you -- one clear and one black. You can see $1000 in the clear box. He says the black box either has nothing in it or $1,000,000. You can take one box, or both.

But he claims to have predicted what you will do, and says if you pick the black box alone, it will have $1,000,000 in it. But if you take both, the black box will have nothing. The clear box obviously has $1,000 guaranteed.

He also claims that by the time he has placed money in the boxes and set the boxes before you, he cannot touch them again. The black box either has money in it or it doesn't by the time you are allowed to make your choice.

What do you do and why?

06-28-2011, 09:11 AM	#1
Reincarnate x'); DROP TABLE FFR;-- Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 6,332	ITT we discuss cool "paradoxes" I'll bring up one: Newcomb's Paradox: You've got a demon who, in the past, has been known to be a very accurate predictor. He sets two boxes before you -- one clear and one black. You can see $1000 in the clear box. He says the black box either has nothing in it or $1,000,000. You can take one box, or both. But he claims to have predicted what you will do, and says if you pick the black box alone, it will have $1,000,000 in it. But if you take both, the black box will have nothing. The clear box obviously has $1,000 guaranteed. He also claims that by the time he has placed money in the boxes and set the boxes before you, he cannot touch them again. The black box either has money in it or it doesn't by the time you are allowed to make your choice. What do you do and why?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)