Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83 based; site hounx.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!hounx!kort From: kort@hounx.UUCP (B.KORT) Newsgroups: net.puzzle,net.philosophy,net.sci,net.religion Subject: Re: Newcomb's Paradox Message-ID: <754@hounx.UUCP> Date: Tue, 25-Mar-86 07:39:34 EST Article-I.D.: hounx.754 Posted: Tue Mar 25 07:39:34 1986 Date-Received: Wed, 26-Mar-86 07:16:48 EST References: <12518@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>, <1480@mhuxt.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 13 Xref: watmath net.puzzle:1561 net.philosophy:4660 net.sci:647 net.religion:9769 I agree with Jeff Sonntag that Newcomb's Paradox suggests that perfect precognition is impossible. Another convincing proof appears in a charming piece by Smullyan entitled Is God Stubborn? Smullyan sets up a scenario where an omniscient God cannot *reveal* his prediction of which breakfast cereal the stubbornly willful and defiant mortal will select. The mortal has vowed to select the opposite choice from the prediction. (Of course, if *I* were doing the prediction, I'd starve the bastard into submission by predicting that he'd eat at least one of his choices.) --Barry Kort ...ihnp4!hounx!kort