Unknowns comments on Two-boxing, smoking and chewing gum in Medical Newcomb problems - Less Wrong

14 Post author: Caspar42 29 June 2015 10:35AM

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Comment author: Unknowns 29 June 2015 04:33:55PM 2 points [-]

This is no different from responding to the original Newcomb's by saying "I would one-box if Omega put the million, and two-box if he didn't."

Both in the original Newcomb's problem and in this one you can use any decision theory you like.

Comment author: Khoth 29 June 2015 04:54:38PM -1 points [-]

There is a difference - with the gene case, there is a causal pathway via brain chemistry or whatnot from the gene to the decision. In the original Newcomb problem, omega's prediction does not cause the decision.

Comment author: Unknowns 29 June 2015 04:57:05PM 3 points [-]

Even in the original Newcomb's problem there is presumably some causal pathway from your brain to your decision. Otherwise Omega wouldn't have a way to predict what you are going to do. And there is no difference here between "your brain" and the "gene" in the two versions.

In neither case does Omega cause your decision, your brain causes it in both cases.