Overview

An anthology that presents 25 years of Lou Marinoff's work addressing foundational paradoxes and dilemmas in rational choice, probability, and utility theory, offering original analyses of and/or resolutions to classic problems like the Prisoner's Dilemma, Newcomb's Problem, and the Two Envelopes Problem This unique anthology reflects the author's analyses and/or resolutions of some of the most perennially perplexing and widely discussed problems arising in rational choice theory, probability theory, and utility theory. It spans 25 years of his research and publications in these related fields. Part One features treatments of the Prisoner's Dilemma, illustrating why there is no objectively 'best strategy' in nature and nurture alike. Part Two treats Newcomb's problem, along with potential failures of misguided 'collective' rationality in non-cooperative multi-player games. Part Three examines pillars and pitfalls of the widely applied and often mis-applied Principle of Indifference, while resolving Bertrand's notorious random chord paradox, the Sleeping Beauty Problem, and the Two Envelopes Problem Part Four presents a thorny moral dilemma debated by Hobbes, Spinoza, and Kant, namely, the ethics of redeeming oneself from a highway robber via the expedient of lying. Part Four then introduces a 'reverse Turing test' that leads to a refutation of the Strong AI thesis. It concludes with a methodological comparison of solutions by an engineer, a physicist, and a mathematician to an old Cambridge challenge puzzle, while shedding new light on a humorous but ontologically impossible solution by Dirac.

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9781839998690

Table of Contents

Reviews

""“Marinoff collects here his important, engaging, and provocative papers on a number of well-known paradoxes of rationality. To this he adds chapters not previously published on Sleeping Beauty and the Two Envelopes paradox and offers an intriguing diagnosis common to both that is well worth further discussion.” — Nicholas Shackel, Professor Emeritus, Cardiff University, UK “Lou Marinoff distinguishes himself with exceptional expertise not only in philosophical practice but also in decision theory. In this book, Marinoff dissects ‘hard problems’ plaguing decision theory and puts forward targeted solutions and incisive insights. This book serves as an invaluable guide for readers seeking to grasp the cutting-edge developments in decision theory.” — Tianqun Pan, Nanjing University, China “Absolutely brilliant! This superb volume deftly unravels enduring paradoxes in the philosophy of science—from the Prisoner’s Dilemma to the Two Envelopes Paradox—with incisive rigor and rare imaginative flair. It illuminates why even our most elegant failures remain philosophy’s profoundest teachers. Essential reading for serious scholars and inquisitive minds alike.” — Young E. Rhee, Department of Philosophy, Dongguk University, South Korea

Author Information

Lou Marinoff is a professor of philosophy at The City College of New York and a prolific author of popular and scholarly books, invited book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles.

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