Newcomb's Paradox
Imagine a game where an all-knowing being presents you with two boxes. One is transparent, containing $1,000. The other is opaque, holding either $1 million or nothing. You can choose to take both boxes or just the opaque one. Here's the twist: if the being predicts you'll take both, it leaves the opaque box empty. If it predicts you'll take only the opaque box, it fills it with $1 million. This mind-bending scenario is Newcomb's Paradox, a thought experiment that challenges our understanding of free will, decision-making, and causality. As we delve into this perplexing puzzle, we'll explore the conflicting arguments and the profound implications it holds for philosophy, game theory, and even our daily lives.
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