[Philosophical Puzzle] - Kavka's toxin puzzle

Posted by Kyo on February 29, 2008 at 15:43:44:

In Reply to: [Philosophical Puzzle] - Newcomb's Paradox posted by Kyo on February 29, 2008 at 15:29:23:

[An eccentric billionaire] places before you a vial of toxin that, if you drink it, will make you painfully ill for a day, but will not threaten your life or have any lasting effects. (. . .) The billionaire will pay you one million dollars tomorrow morning if, at midnight tonight, you intend to drink the toxin tomorrow afternoon. He emphasizes that you need not drink the toxin to receive the money; in fact, the money will already be in your bank account hours before the time for drinking it arrives, if you succeed. All you have to do is intend at midnight tonight to drink the stuff tomorrow afternoon. You are perfectly free to change your mind after receiving the money and not drink the toxin.

Assuming you want the money, can you *truly* intend to drink the poison, when you know you don't have to (in order to keep the money)?

Solution :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kavka%27s_toxin_puzzle

Follow Ups:

• [Philosophical Puzzle] - Prisoner's Dilemma - Kyo 02/29/08 (0)

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