David_Chapman comments on Probability and radical uncertainty - Less Wrong

11 Post author: David_Chapman 23 November 2013 10:34PM

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Comment author: David_Chapman 24 November 2013 05:07:36AM *  1 point [-]

So... you think I am probably evil, then? :-)

I gave you the box (in the thought experiment). I may not have selected it from Thingspace at random!

In fact, there's strong evidence in the text of the OP that I didn't...

Comment author: Bayeslisk 24 November 2013 06:35:26AM 3 points [-]

I am pattern-matching from fiction on "black box with evil-looking inscriptions on it". Those do not tend to end well for anyone. Also, what do you mean by strong evidence against that the box is less harmful than a given random object from Thingspace? I can /barely sort of/ see "not a random object from Thingspace"; I cannot see "EV(U(spoopy creppy black box)) > EV(U(object from Thingspace))".

Comment author: Bayeslisk 25 November 2013 09:43:44PM *  2 points [-]

EBWOP: On further reflection I find that since most of Thingspace instantaneously destroys the universe,

EV(U(spoopy creppy black box)) >>>

EV(U(object from Thingspace)).

However, what I was trying to get at was that

EV(U(spoopy creppy black box)) <=

EV(U(representative object from-class: chance-based deal boxes with "normal" outcomes)) <=

EV(U(representative object from-class: chance-based deal boxes with Thingspace-like outcomes)) <=

EV(U(representative object from-class: chance-based deal boxes with terrifyingly creatively imaginable outcomes))

Comment author: David_Chapman 24 November 2013 06:48:56PM *  1 point [-]

The evidence that I didn't select it at random was my saying “I find this one particularly interesting.”

I also claimed that "I'm probably not that evil." Of course, I might be lying about that! Still, that's a fact that ought to go into your Bayesian evaluation, no?

Comment author: Bayeslisk 24 November 2013 10:48:07PM 2 points [-]

"Interesting" tends to mean "whatever it would be, it does that more" in the context of possibly psuedo-Faustian bargains and signals of probable deceit. From what I know, I do not start with reason to trust you, and the evidence found in the OP suggests that I should update the probability that you are concealing information updating on which would lead me not to use the black box to "much higher".

Comment author: David_Chapman 25 November 2013 12:15:12AM 3 points [-]

Oh, goodness, interesting, you do think I'm evil!

I'm not sure whether to be flattered or upset or what. It's kinda cool, anyway!

Comment author: Bayeslisk 25 November 2013 01:21:54AM 2 points [-]

I think that avatar-of-you-in-this-presented-scenario does not remotely have avatar-of-me-in-this-scenario's best interests at heart, yes.