whpearson comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 5 - Less Wrong

6 Post author: NihilCredo 02 November 2010 06:57PM

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Comment author: whpearson 08 November 2010 05:07:23PM 3 points [-]

I'm not so much concerned with the reasoning around the duel (apart from why AK was needed to make someone dodge). I'm mainly against Quirrell taking the boy to Azkaban in the first place. General common sense says that is not a good idea unless it is a desperate situation. Especially since Quirrell can't cast magic on Harry if he decides to do something rash.

What is the expected utility of taking Harry to Azkaban in total, from Quirrells point of view?

Comment author: Eneasz 08 November 2010 06:39:48PM 4 points [-]

unless it is a desperate situation

How many more months could Bellatrix last in there?

Comment author: shokwave 09 November 2010 04:20:01AM *  1 point [-]

What is the expected utility of taking Harry to Azkaban in total, from Quirrells point of view?

I don't know his numbers, but something like (Bellatrix's life - risk of failing and both dying). Given that he had the perfect plan, is maybe the most powerful wizard around, and had Harry along to beat the Dementors, the risk of failing was probably lower than half, which means the expected utility is positive.

Comment author: whpearson 09 November 2010 11:47:04AM 3 points [-]

We have very different views on how Quirrell reasons... the stakes are a lot higher from my perspective.

Taking him at face value I would expect him to be concerned with the outcome of the wizarding world's fight against the human, thus him and Harry dieing would jeopardize that fight (there is no one else that seems concerned, no lieutenants to carry on the fight). So we are talking thousands of lives, from this perspective.

Bellatrix might be able to help the fight, whether she would save half as many lives than Harry and Quirrell, I'd guess not.