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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: Sun, 20-Apr-86 10:58:02 EST
References: <12518@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>, <1480@mhuxt.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
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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