I feel some people here are trying to define their utility functions via linear combinations of sub-functions which only depend on small parts of the world state.
Example: If I own X, that’ll give me a utility of 5, if I own Y that’ll give me a utility of 3, if I own Z, that’ll give me a utility of 1.
Problem: Choose any two of {X, Y, Z}
Apparent Solution: {X, Y} for a total utility of 8.
But human utility functions are not a linear combination of such sub-functions, but functions from global World states into the real numbers. Think about the above example with X = Car, Y = Bike, Z = Car keys.
It seems obvious now, but the interdependencies are much more complicated. Like money utility being dependent on the market situation, food utility being dependent on the stuff you ate recently, material (as in building) utility being dependent on available tools and vice versa, internet availability utility being dependent on available computer, power, and time.
I feel some people here are trying to define their utility functions via linear combinations of sub-functions which only depend on small parts of the world state.
Example: If I own X, that’ll give me a utility of 5, if I own Y that’ll give me a utility of 3, if I own Z, that’ll give me a utility of 1.
Problem: Choose any two of {X, Y, Z}
Apparent Solution: {X, Y} for a total utility of 8.
But human utility functions are not a linear combination of such sub-functions, but functions from global World states into the real numbers. Think about the above example with X = Car, Y = Bike, Z = Car keys.
It seems obvious now, but the interdependencies are much more complicated. Like money utility being dependent on the market situation, food utility being dependent on the stuff you ate recently, material (as in building) utility being dependent on available tools and vice versa, internet availability utility being dependent on available computer, power, and time.