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kilobug comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 16, chapter 85 - Less Wrong Discussion

9 Post author: FAWS 18 April 2012 02:30AM

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Comment author: SkyDK 18 April 2012 03:37:44PM *  3 points [-]

Yes, of course. First of all, I just updated it to 0.15-0.20. This might actually be a bit high, but I've set it higher than what I feel is right due to my bias (consisting of Eliezer finding a more interesting way of writing the story).

It is "so low" due to the following:

  • a) I believe that Quirrel is not seeking a physical confrontation with Harry (earlier we saw him toss Harry a knut (that could have been a portkey to a volcano))

  • a.1.) Harry wouldn't win such a confrontation (a sneak attack would of course be much more likely to get the job done)

  • a.2.) If there is a confrontation and if that confrontation ends with the death of Quirrel, I expect the wands or Lily's ritual to be the deciding factor, not any action of Harry's.

  • b) I consider it most probable that Quirrel tries to turn Harry to his ways (0.6 < p < 0.5)

  • b.1) Harry might try to counter-turn Quirrel. I do doubt though that this will end with one of them dying. Killing one another seems so irrational...

  • c) if Harry decides Quirrel must die, he'd do better using henchmen

[I'm now officially not a fan of the editing options here]

Comment author: kilobug 18 April 2012 04:40:48PM 3 points [-]

Thanks, I think part of my surprise was from a different understanding of "he'll feel forced to kill Quirrel", to me that means "he'll take the decision of trying to kill Quirrel, using whatever indirect plan, surprise, henchmen, ... in the process", not just a one-to-one fight in which Harry kills Quirrel (like the way he kills Voldemort in the cannon). I agree the probability of such one-to-one fight is quite low.

Comment author: SkyDK 18 April 2012 07:31:04PM 0 points [-]

Even so, I doubt Quirrel would leave clues as to him killing anyone (due to him knowing Harry doesn't like killing and me believing b))