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Article 5875 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: rjbodkin@theory.lcs.mit.edu (Ronald Bodkin)
Subject: Re: AI failures
In-Reply-To: pindor@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca's message of Fri, 15 May 1992 14:51:42 GMT
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Organization: MIT Lab for Computer Science
References: <1992May11.160456.15469@math.okstate.edu>
	<1992May11.183017.14806@psych.toronto.edu>
	<1992May11.210524.30977@mp.cs.niu.edu>
	<1992May12.002440.5501@psych.toronto.edu>
	<unaphINNpv8@early-bird.think.com>
	<RJBODKIN.92May15034757@lister.lcs.mit.edu>
	<1992May15.145142.4097@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca>
Date: Sun, 24 May 1992 07:42:47 GMT
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In article <1992May15.145142.4097@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> pindor@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Andrzej Pindor) writes:
   >	And why would you draw straws, instead of just killing him
   >while he cuts the straws?  It appears that you are, in fact,
   >obeying some kind of ethics since risking an increased chance of death
   >isn't exactly "pragmatic."
   >
   It is so simple that I am surprised you do not see it yourself! If we fight who
   eats whom, both of us may die since even if one wins, he/she may be weakened
   enough in the process fo fight that extra food is not going to be help.
   Ever heard about prisoner's dilemma?

	Yes, and the point is that it is not "pragmatic" to cooperate
in a prisoner's dilemma.  No matter whether the other guy is willing
to fight you, you should fight him if it is your intention to advance
your own interests.  If you are not so inclined, then you certainly
believe in some kind of (non-egoist) ethics.  As long as you are
benefitted, the joint consequence is irrelevant.

		Ron
p.s. sorry about the delay, but the newsposter rejected this article
the first time.


