this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2023
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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

But if you assume that such a person exists, then it is inevitable that someone will pull the switch. The very best case is that such a person is immediately after you. Therefore, the only minimizing choice is to kill however many people you have.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Oh, I see. Yes, the context here was that we assume all possible chain lengths. If it's infinite the death-minimising strategy is obviously to pull it, and if your switch is the only one you obviously don't. The question was where it changes from one to the other.

I'll edit a clarification in.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Makes me wonder what happens when the number of people tied to the tracks exceeds rhe number of people currently alive. Should be around the 33rd lever.