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LessWrong post: Metaphysics is key to Functional Decision Theory debates

A LessWrong post argues that discussions around Functional Decision Theory (FDT) often neglect crucial metaphysical underpinnings. The author contends that to justify FDT's recommendations, particularly in scenarios like blackmail, one must engage with concepts such as alternate realities, the possibility of altering the past, or a Platonist view of decision processes. The post criticizes the common online debates for focusing on semantic disagreements rather than these fundamental metaphysical questions, which the author believes are the true crux of the FDT debate. AI

IMPACT Highlights the need for deeper theoretical grounding in AI alignment research, potentially influencing future approaches to agent rationality.

RANK_REASON The item is an opinion piece discussing theoretical concepts in decision theory, not a primary release or significant industry event.

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LessWrong post: Metaphysics is key to Functional Decision Theory debates

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  1. LessWrong (AI tag) TIER_1 English(EN) · Elias Schmied ·

    Stop doing decision theory without metaphysics

    <p><i><span>[Epistemic status: rant]</span></i></p><p><span>There’s something that annoys me about the reoccurring debates on decision theory in this corner of the internet.</span></p><p><span>Take a simple blackmail scenario:</span></p><blockquote><p><span>Omega, a near-perfect …