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Oscar_Cunningham comments on The self-fooling problem. - Less Wrong Discussion

10 Post author: PuyaSharif 10 October 2011 10:26PM

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Comment author: Oscar_Cunningham 10 October 2011 10:35:53PM 2 points [-]

Then you will be told about the task (i.e that you have hidden a coin), and asked to try to find the coin. If you find it you'll lose, but you will be convinced that if you find it you win.

How does this work? If I know that there's evidence that will convince my future self that finding the coin will make me win, then I update on this, and don't believe you when you say that I'll lose if I find the coin. Vice-versa after the memory wipe.

Comment author: Mycroft65536 10 October 2011 10:59:12PM 4 points [-]

Tell the person in both states that if he finds the coin an arbitrary dog is going to die and the subject will receive $100. Then just before the subject starts to hide the coin, show the a cute puppy to them. The subject will try to hide the coin very well, and then later, without the memory of the cute puppy, will try to find the coin. Incentives should work out, adjust the animal(child?) and dollar amount to suit the subject.

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