I have just picked up on this thread, so apologies if this is old
ground, but I find the ideas fascinating.
Choice may be an illusion, but from which point of view?
>From my point of view about my choices, or from your point of view about
my choices?
Then there is Newcombe's paradox as follows......
There is an imaginary being, one that has the ability to predict human
choices with almost total accuracy. It has never made an incorrect
prediction about your actions, and you know that this being has often
correctly predicted the choices of others. The being shows you two boxes.
box 1 contains $1000
Box 2 contains eihther $1,000,000 or nothing.
You have two choices.
You can take what is both boxes, or you can take only what is in the
second box.
If you choose to take what is in both boxes, the being (corrctly
predicting this) will leave box 2 empty. So you will get $1000.
If you opt for the second choice and take only box 2, the being,
(predicting this) will ensure there is the $1,000,000 in it.
So, the being makes the prediction, then it arranges the boxes, then he
tells you the conditions, then you make your choice.
What do you do?
Choose your solution.
-- Joseph O'Connor joseph@demon.co.uk