#1 Newcomb's Boxes.
Omega has two boxes and it says,
"If you decide to open only "A"
It will contain £1 million
But if you, decide to open box B too,
A will be empty, while its twin,
Will contain one thousand of your pounds."
It departs.
The boxes remain.
Decision theory says you open both
For they are both already filled,
Whatever you do.
But only those who take box A alone
Ever get the million pounds,
So why is decision theory wrong?
Does Omega model your mind, infallibly?
Deny free will, reduce you to a doll?
Travel in time, or see your future act?
Destroy the universes if once its guesses fail?
No, it has two boxes, such that
Which ever opens first, destroys the other's treasure.
(A radio, and a simple powder-flash suffices,
The treasure's cheques: Omega risks no cash).
No other tool is needed.
No further complexity.
Occam's razor, determines this.
And Decision theory should work, on
Occam-like assumptions.
Curse you Omega, no wonder your
Gell guards were rubbish.
To play such silly, pranks as this.
Omega has two boxes and it says,
"If you decide to open only "A"
It will contain £1 million
But if you, decide to open box B too,
A will be empty, while its twin,
Will contain one thousand of your pounds."
It departs.
The boxes remain.
Decision theory says you open both
For they are both already filled,
Whatever you do.
But only those who take box A alone
Ever get the million pounds,
So why is decision theory wrong?
Does Omega model your mind, infallibly?
Deny free will, reduce you to a doll?
Travel in time, or see your future act?
Destroy the universes if once its guesses fail?
No, it has two boxes, such that
Which ever opens first, destroys the other's treasure.
(A radio, and a simple powder-flash suffices,
The treasure's cheques: Omega risks no cash).
No other tool is needed.
No further complexity.
Occam's razor, determines this.
And Decision theory should work, on
Occam-like assumptions.
Curse you Omega, no wonder your
Gell guards were rubbish.
To play such silly, pranks as this.