sam0345 comments on [Poll] Who looks better in your eyes? - Less Wrong

6 [deleted] 25 August 2011 11:29AM

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Comment author: sam0345 28 August 2011 04:39:49AM 3 points [-]

All else being equal, it seems an A would rather cooperate with a B than another A, because the cost to predict defection is lower.

The cost to predict consciously intended defection is lower.

I can and have produced numerous examples of Bs unintentionally defecting in our society, but for a less controversial example, let us take a society now deemed horrid. Let us consider the fake Nazi Dr. Wernher von Braun. Dr. Wernher von Braun was an example of A. His associates were examples of Bs. He proceeded to save their lives by lying to them and others, causing them to be captured by the Americans rather than the Russians. The B's around him were busy trying to get him killed, and themselves killed.

Comment author: [deleted] 02 September 2011 09:48:33AM *  0 points [-]

The cost to predict consciously intended defection is lower.

I generally find it it easier to predict behaviour when people pursue their interests than when they pursue their ideals. If their behaviour matches their interests rather than a set of ideals that they hide, isn't it easier to predict their behaviour?