Do you claim that accepting MWI is a necessary part of rationality and/or do you claim that there is empirical difference between an MWI world and a Copenhagen world?
Figuring out the truth of election outcomes
I should have been more clear: I meant debates between candidates, e.g. debates between candidates for the presidency of the United States. Clearly you want to win such a debate rather than truth-seek, and clearly your goals aren’t exactly trivial.
Sorry to bring in MWI—it is how I model actions and decisions, but it’s not necessary to the conversation.
you want to win such a debate
Agreed, and I was unclear above. Many times you want to “win” by convincing people to follow you, even if you are encouraging untruth in them. You still benefit by knowing the truth, as it will help you manipulate them. I’d argue that this drifts from rationality to ethics pretty quickly, but you’re absolutely right: the point of debate may not be rational truth-seeking in the first place.
Do you claim that accepting MWI is a necessary part of rationality and/or do you claim that there is empirical difference between an MWI world and a Copenhagen world?
I should have been more clear: I meant debates between candidates, e.g. debates between candidates for the presidency of the United States. Clearly you want to win such a debate rather than truth-seek, and clearly your goals aren’t exactly trivial.
Sorry to bring in MWI—it is how I model actions and decisions, but it’s not necessary to the conversation.
Agreed, and I was unclear above. Many times you want to “win” by convincing people to follow you, even if you are encouraging untruth in them. You still benefit by knowing the truth, as it will help you manipulate them. I’d argue that this drifts from rationality to ethics pretty quickly, but you’re absolutely right: the point of debate may not be rational truth-seeking in the first place.