Rational Choice

[christopher]

a mini-tornado which has hit my house, in the form of a visiting 14 month

Got one-a-those too.

[Paidion]

Well brothers, would you help me out here because that is what I meant. Can you explain how the computer prediction is not rational?

The computer prediction is neither rational nor irrational. It's your CHOICE which is either rational or irrational. True, I think that choosing both boxes is the rational choice. That's because I'm a class B thinker. A class A thinker believes opening only Box A is the rational choice.

It seems to be because if it is correct 500 analyses out of reading 500 brainwave sets, then it might be right when it predicts my choice. (Even tossing a coin never gets that good; you would never get 500 "heads" or "tails" consecutively, or randomly). So if it "knows" that I would want to open both boxes, the result would be that $100 is put in box A and $100 in box B. Okay, what is wrong with my rationale?

What's the difference what the computer predicted? The money is already there! If you open both boxes, you get to keep what is in both boxes. If you open only Box A, you get to keep only what is in Box A. (What I have just expressed is typical Class B thinking)

Thank you for telling me in kindness. Michelle, according to Paidion, you have aced the "test." Maybe you can set me strait.

It wasn't a test ---- except in the sense that it possibly assessed the type of thinker you are.
And Michelle didn't "ace" anything. She just happens to agree with me that opening both boxes is the rational choice.

[selah]

Paidion wrote

Well brothers, would you help me out here because that is what I meant. Can you explain how the computer prediction is not rational?

The computer prediction is neither rational nor irrational. It's your CHOICE which is either rational or irrational.

You're right, I meant it the way you said it. I'll try to write more clearly in the future.

Paidion wrote

It seems to be because if it is correct 500 analyses out of reading 500 brainwave sets, then it might be right when it predicts my choice. (Even tossing a coin never gets that good; you would never get 500 "heads" or "tails" consecutively, or randomly). So if it "knows" that I would want to open both boxes, the result would be that $100 is put in box A and $100 in box B. Okay, what is wrong with my rationale?

What's the difference what the computer predicted? The money is already there! If you open both boxes, you get to keep what is in both boxes. If you open only Box A, you get to keep only what is in Box A. (What I have just expressed is typical Class B thinking)

Exactly! I see that now that you point it out! I should not have gotten distracted! Thank you.

[Murf]

Prehaps the only "rational" choice is to open Box A first then determine what you will do next.

[Michelle]

Prehaps the only "rational" choice is to open Box A first then determine what you will do next.

Er...I didn't think you had that option.

[Murf]

Er...I didn't think you had that option.

I know. Sorry, my humor rarely works on-line. Since Box A'er think they are rational and Box B'er think they are rational and neither think the other is rational, I was just throwing out an alternative.

But always remember, just because someone sets up abitrary rules, that doesn't mean you have to play by them.
tim