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Petra Kosonen

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Philosophy postdoc

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3y

Introduction to Expected Value Fanaticism

I wrote an introduction to Expected Value Fanaticism for Utilitarianism.net. Suppose there was a magical potion that almost certainly kills you immediately but offers you (and your family and friends) an extremely long, happy life with a tiny probability. If the probability of a happy life were one in a...

Feb 14, 20259

Petra Kosonen

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Philosophy postdoc

8

1

3y

Introduction to Expected Value Fanaticism

I wrote an introduction to Expected Value Fanaticism for Utilitarianism.net. Suppose there was a magical potion that almost certainly kills you immediately but offers you (and your family and friends) an extremely long, happy life with a tiny probability. If the probability of a happy life were one in a...

Feb 14, 20259

Introduction to Expected Value Fanaticism

Petra Kosonen

1y

I wrote an introduction to Expected Value Fanaticism for Utilitarianism.net. Suppose there was a magical potion that almost certainly kills you immediately but offers you (and your family and friends) an extremely long, happy life with a tiny probability. If the probability of a happy life were one in a billion and the resulting life lasted one trillion years, would you drink this potion? According to Expected Value Fanaticism, you should accept gambles like that.

This view may seem, frankly, crazy - but there are some very good arguments in its favor. Basically, if you reject Expected Value Fanaticism, you'll end up violating some very plausible principles. You would have to believe, for... (read more)

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