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comment by harfe · 2022-11-16T04:01:39.625Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
I fail to see how this changes the answer to the St Petersburg paradox. We have the option of 2 utility with 51% probability and 0 utility with 49% probability, and a second option of utility 1 with 100%. Removing the worst 0.5% of the probability distribution gives us a probability of 48.5% for utility 0, and removing the best 0.5% of the probability distribution gives us a probability of 50.5% for utility 2. Renormalizing so that the probabilities sum to gives us probabilities for utility , and for utility . The expected value is then still greater than . Thus we should choose the option where we have a chance at doubling utility.
Replies from: cole-killian, cole-killian↑ comment by Cole Killian (cole-killian) · 2022-11-16T22:20:08.405Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
Good point thanks for the comment. I'll think about it some more and get back to you.
↑ comment by Cole Killian (cole-killian) · 2022-11-18T18:42:21.682Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
I posted a V2 of the post here: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/WYGp9Kwd9FEjq4PKM/sbf-pascal-s-mugging-and-a-proposed-solution [LW · GW]. I'm curious what do you think?
The new approach is to also incorporate (with more details in the post):
- A bounded utility function to account for human indifference to changes in utility above or below a certain point.
- A log or sub log utility function to account for human risk aversion.