Re: An interesting paradox for you.

James Dreier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
>
>> >I would certainly be capable of formulating it! (And even if I weren't 
>> >clever enough, it's been formulated for me.) I think I would never 
>> >follow it. When the time came actually to volunteer for the flogging, I 
>> >would have no reason whatsoever to do it, and I'm certain that I would 
>> >not do it with no reason. Since I would know this in advance, I don't 
>> >see how I could form the intention to do it.
>> 
>> You just contradicted yourself. 
>> This sentence:
>> >When the time came actually to volunteer for the flogging, I 
>> >would have no reason whatsoever to do it
>> is immediately contradicted by this one:
>> >Since I would know this in advance, I don't 
>> >see how I could form the intention to do it.
>> 
>> You only have to look ahead *one sentence* to see that the fact that you 
>> can't
>> form an intention and therefore can't claim the money without getting 
>> flogged,
>> is sufficient reason to volunteer for the flogging.
>
>
>I'm not sure I follow you. It isn't true that I cannot form an intention 
>without getting flogged. What is true (I think, and anyway am now 
>claiming) is that I cannot form the intention to volunteer if I know 
>that when the time comes I will not volunteer. I'll assume that's what 
>you meant.

Well, I can't envisage being prevented from claiming the cash by something as
amorphous as 'I couldn't form the intention'. Hell, this is big moolah, you
gotta try harder.

I mean, I can see the paradox, but it's only a paradox if you accept that it's
one. Form the intention successfully and the paradox vanishes, and you score. So
in order to help form the intention, make up your mind *in advance* that come
what may, you will get flogged. Even if you have to hire your own 'flogger' if
the appointed one doesn't turn up.

I see your objection, I just don't believe that if it came down to it and you
really could score the mil, you wouldn't find a way.

>At 7:30, it is time to volunteer for a flogging. I am wondering whether 
>I have a reason to volunteer for it. There are two cases.
>
>Case One: I have the money.
>
>Case Two: I do not have the money.
>

Case Three: I don't care about cases one and two. I've got a million, and I
don't want some paradox to come biting me, so I make sure I get flogged.

>In Case One, are you suggesting that my reason for volunteering is that 
>if I do not, I cannot get the money? Or that my reason for volunteering 
>is that if I do not, I will make it impossible for me to have formed the 
>intention hours ago? But those certainly *seem* false. And likewise in 
>Case Two.
>Maybe there's a trick.

Try this: Don't think so far ahead. Form the intention now, worry about the
paradox later. Most people manage to be short-sighted all through life, are you
going to let them benefit while you lose a million dollars for thinking too far
ahead?
-- 
Patrick Hamlyn   posting from Perth, Western Australia
Windsurfing capital of the Southern Hemisphere
Moderator: polyforms group ([EMAIL PROTECTED])