-dan comments on Harder Choices Matter Less - Less Wrong

31 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 29 August 2008 02:02AM

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Comment author: -dan 29 August 2008 03:32:29AM 0 points [-]

Sophie's Choice?

Comment author: Polymeron 13 July 2011 11:01:39AM 6 points [-]

...Represents a choice where the internal simulation of any outcome is intolerable, providing a strong negative feedback for trying to choose it.

From a rational perspective there really isn't that much of a difference between the two stated options - I don't think any of us would morally condemn her for one and not the other. And abstaining from decision is almost immediately out the door in terms of desired outcome. So Eliezer's point pretty much stands.

Of course, it wouldn't really be fair to expect someone facing Sophie's Choice to stay fully rational... Some experiences are just too jarring.