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Kindly comments on Open thread, Mar. 2 - Mar. 8, 2015 - Less Wrong Discussion

4 Post author: MrMind 02 March 2015 08:19AM

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Comment author: Kindly 07 March 2015 03:11:39PM 1 point [-]

In the VNM scheme where expected utility is derived at a consequence of the axioms, the way that a bet's utility changes over time is that its utility is not fixed. Nothing at all stops you from changing the utility you attach to a 50:50 gamble of getting a kitten versus $5 if your utility for a kitten (or for $5) changes: for example, if you get another kitten or win the lottery.

Generalizing to allow the value of the bet to change when the value of the options did not change seems strange to me.