wnoise comments on Cryonics Questions - Less Wrong

9 Post author: James_Miller 26 August 2010 11:19PM

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Comment author: wnoise 27 August 2010 07:00:56PM 3 points [-]

Certainly time discounting is something that evolution taught us to do. However, it is adjusting for more than risks. $100 now is worth strictly more than $100 later, because now I can do a strict superset of what I can do with it later (namely, spend it on anything between now and then), as well as hold on to it and turn it into $100 later.

Comment author: Alicorn 27 August 2010 07:04:29PM 1 point [-]

$100 now is worth strictly more than $100 later, because now I can do a strict superset of what I can do with it later (namely, spend it on anything between now and then), as well as hold on to it and turn it into $100 later.

There could be Schellingesque reasons to wish to lack money during a certain time. For example, suppose you can have a debt forgiven iff you can prove that you have no money at a certain time; then you don't want to have money at that time, but you would still benefit from acquiring the money later.

Comment author: PhilGoetz 31 August 2010 04:24:38PM *  0 points [-]

Yes, time discounting isn't just about risk, so that was a bit silly of me. I would have an advantage in chess if I could make all my moves before you made any of yours.