Newcomb's Problem

doi:10.1017/9781316847893

Newcomb's problem is a controversial paradox of decision theory. It is easily explained and easily understood, and there is a strong chance that most of us have actually faced it in some form or other. And yet it has proven as thorny and intractable a puzzle as much older and better-known philosophical problems of consciousness, scepticism and fatalism. It brings into very sharp and focused disagreement several long-standing philosophical theories on practical rationality, on the nature of free will, and on the direction and analysis of causation. This volume introduces readers to the nature of Newcomb's problem, and ten chapters by leading scholars present the most recent debates around the problem and analyse its ramifications for decision theory, metaphysics, philosophical psychology and political science. Their chapters highlight the status of Newcomb's problem as a live and continuing issue in modern philosophy.

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Contents

Newcomb’s Problem
pp i-i
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Classic Philosophical Arguments - Series page
pp ii-ii
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Newcomb’s Problem - Title page
pp iii-iii
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Copyright page
pp iv-iv
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Contents
pp v-v
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Contributors
pp vi-vi
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Acknowledgments
pp vii-viii
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Introduction
pp 1-18
- By Arif Ahmed
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1 - Does Newcomb’s Problem Actually Exist?
pp 19-41
- By José Luis Bermúdez
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2 - Newcomb’s Problem, Rationality, and Restraint
pp 42-54
- By Chrisoula Andreou
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3 - The “Why Ain’cha Rich?” Argument
pp 55-72
- By Arif Ahmed
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4 - Epistemic Time Bias in Newcomb’s Problem∗
pp 73-95
- By Melissa Fusco
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5 - Newcomb’s Problem is Everyone’s Problem: Making Political and Economic Decisions when Behavior is Interdependent
pp 96-114
- By Robert Grafstein
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6 - Success-First Decision Theories
pp 115-137
- By Preston Greene
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7 - Deliberation and Stability in Newcomb Problems and Pseudo-Newcomb Problems1
pp 138-159
- By James M. Joyce
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8 - “Click!” Bait for Causalists
pp 160-179
- By Huw Price, Yang Liu
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9 - Game Theory and Decision Theory (Causal and Evidential)
pp 180-200
- By Robert Stalnaker
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10 - Diagnosing Newcomb’s Problem with Causal Graphs
pp 201-220
- By Reuben Stern
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References
pp 221-231
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Index
pp 232-234
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Contents

Newcomb’s Problem
pp i-i

Classic Philosophical Arguments - Series page
pp ii-ii

Newcomb’s Problem - Title page
pp iii-iii

Copyright page
pp iv-iv

Contents
pp v-v

Contributors
pp vi-vi

Acknowledgments
pp vii-viii

Introduction
pp 1-18

1 - Does Newcomb’s Problem Actually Exist?
pp 19-41

2 - Newcomb’s Problem, Rationality, and Restraint
pp 42-54

3 - The “Why Ain’cha Rich?” Argument
pp 55-72

4 - Epistemic Time Bias in Newcomb’s Problem∗
pp 73-95

5 - Newcomb’s Problem is Everyone’s Problem: Making Political and Economic Decisions when Behavior is Interdependent
pp 96-114

6 - Success-First Decision Theories
pp 115-137

7 - Deliberation and Stability in Newcomb Problems and Pseudo-Newcomb Problems1
pp 138-159

8 - “Click!” Bait for Causalists
pp 160-179

9 - Game Theory and Decision Theory (Causal and Evidential)
pp 180-200

10 - Diagnosing Newcomb’s Problem with Causal Graphs
pp 201-220

References
pp 221-231

Index
pp 232-234

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