Another one of those button questions.

[NightGizmo]

I think pressing the button for ten cents has to already be +EV, because (as an atheist or whatever) there is no negative consequence to pushing the button that I can see.

Being an atheist does not equate to assigning a value of 0 to your own life. In fact, the reason I wouldn't push the button is because I so highly value my own life relative to money. I can always find more ways to get money -- I can't replace my life. And I'd like to live out the rest of the life I have remaining, not lose it in a bad gamble (imo) for some extra money I don't need.

But I guess I get the luxury of refusing because I already make enough money to cover my needs.

[kiwiMark]

Being an atheist does not equate to assigning a value of 0 to your own life.

You're putting words into my mouth. So far I've said it would be impossible for me to regret pushing the button, and that there would be no negative consequence to pushing the button.

I'm not sure if my logic/reasoning was unclear or if you follow it but don't agree with it. Assuming it was unclear: both regret and consequences are things that, by definition, happen afterwards. In this situation, 99 times out of 100 there is a positive outcome, and the other 1 time there is no outcome, as nothing happens afterwards because there is no afterwards.


benny's question is legit, but I have no good answer for it. Maybe it'd be balanced by "holy shit I'm lucky to be alive I'll cherish every second of it", when you do start reflecting on the decision you made. Probably wouldn't be a good story to tell in job interviews.

[NightGizmo]

I'm not sure if my logic/reasoning was unclear or if you follow it but don't agree with it. Assuming it was unclear: both regret and consequences are things that, by definition, happen afterwards. In this situation, 99 times out of 100 there is a positive outcome, and the other 1 time there is no outcome, as nothing happens afterwards because there is no afterwards.

I get your logic, but I strongly disagree with the bolded part above. Losing your life is a huge negative component of the EV calc. Just because you aren't around to regret your decision doesn't mean that you haven't lost something tangible.

If you use your same logic -- is it OK for someone to kill you for no reason, because you won't be around to care?

In case it's just that I threw the word atheist in there that's messing with people, it doesn't have anything to do with not believing in a god, but the point is the belief/knowledge that when I die the "I" totally ceases to be.

FYI -- I'm an atheist. With no expectation of an afterlife, I value my life very highly.