“Pascal’s wager” is the argument that you should be Christian, because if you compute the expected value of being a Christian vs. of being an atheist, then for any finite positive probability that Christianity is correct, that finite probability multiplied by (infinite +utility minus infinite -utility) outweights the other side of the equation.
The similar Yudkowsky wager is the argument that you should be an FAIer, because the negative utility of destroying the universe outweighs the other side of the equation, whatever the probabilities are. It is not exactly analogous, unless you believe that the universe can support infinite computation (if it isn’t destroyed), because the negative utility isn’t actually infinite.
I feel that Pascal’s wager is not a valid argument, but have a hard time articulating a response.
We are entering into a Pascal’s Wager situation.
“Pascal’s wager” is the argument that you should be Christian, because if you compute the expected value of being a Christian vs. of being an atheist, then for any finite positive probability that Christianity is correct, that finite probability multiplied by (infinite +utility minus infinite -utility) outweights the other side of the equation.
The similar Yudkowsky wager is the argument that you should be an FAIer, because the negative utility of destroying the universe outweighs the other side of the equation, whatever the probabilities are. It is not exactly analogous, unless you believe that the universe can support infinite computation (if it isn’t destroyed), because the negative utility isn’t actually infinite.
I feel that Pascal’s wager is not a valid argument, but have a hard time articulating a response.