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Science

Uncle Joe

(65,039 posts) Fri Mar 20, 2026, 10:54 AM 8 hrs ago

This Paradox Splits Smart People 50/50

Two boxes, one choice, and $1,000,000.

3 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

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This Paradox Splits Smart People 50/50 (Original Post) Uncle Joe 8 hrs ago OP

I'd brick the super computer, take both boxes, and run! hunter 8 hrs ago #1

Wow this is very good LearnedHand 8 hrs ago #2

One Box - the chance of getting the $1M is worth more to me than the risk of getting nothing walkingman 7 hrs ago #3

hunter

(40,657 posts)

1. I'd brick the super computer, take both boxes, and run!

Reply to Uncle Joe (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2026, 11:29 AM

8 hrs ago

LearnedHand

(5,419 posts)

2. Wow this is very good

Reply to Uncle Joe (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2026, 11:32 AM

8 hrs ago

They almost lost me with the free will discussion until that one guy explained it probably doesn’t exist but societies must act as if it does. This makes a ton of sense. Also, I really appreciate their exposing and codifying aspects of decisionmaking. I knew about the Prisoner’s Dilemma, of course, but I didn’t know about Newcomb’s paradox. Thanks!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcomb%27s_problem

EDIT: The film Fail Safe explores the question of will they/won’t they press the MAD button.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058083

walkingman

(10,776 posts)

3. One Box - the chance of getting the $1M is worth more to me than the risk of getting nothing

Reply to Uncle Joe (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2026, 11:50 AM

7 hrs ago

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