Newcomb's paradox facts for kids
Newcomb's paradox is a fun thought experiment in philosophy. It helps us think about how we make choices. It also makes us wonder if someone can truly predict the future.
Imagine a super-smart being named Omega. Omega is so clever that it can almost always guess what you will do. Maybe Omega is an alien from a very advanced planet. You know Omega has been right about your choices many times. It has also been right about other people's choices.
Now, Omega shows you two boxes:
- Box A: This box is clear. You can see it has $1,000 inside.
- Box B: This box is opaque (you can't see inside). It has either $0 or $1,000,000.
You have two choices: 1. Take only Box B. 2. Take both Box A and Box B.
Omega decided what to put in Box B before you arrived.
- If Omega thought you would take both boxes, it put $0 in Box B.
- If Omega thought you would take only Box B, it put $1,000,000 in Box B.
Omega made its guess, put the money in Box B, and then left. You don't know what Omega guessed. You also don't know what is inside Box B. What would you choose to do?
Why choose only Box B?
This choice seems smart if you trust Omega completely. If Omega is always right, then it would only put $1,000,000 in Box B if it knew you would pick only Box B.
So, if you pick only Box B, Omega would have put $1,000,000 inside. This is much more money than $1,000. So, choosing only Box B makes the most sense. You trust Omega's perfect prediction.
Why choose both boxes?
This choice focuses on what is already true. Omega has already left. The money in Box B is already there. It won't change based on your decision now.
Let's say Box B has $0. If you take both, you get $1,000 from Box A. If you take only Box B, you get $0. So, taking both is better.
Let's say Box B has $1,000,000. If you take both, you get $1,000,000 + $1,000 = $1,001,000. If you take only Box B, you get $1,000,000. So, taking both is still better.
No matter what is in Box B, you always get an extra $1,000 by taking Box A too. This is why some people choose both boxes.
See also
- In Spanish: Paradoja de Newcomb para niños
