Sequential Extensions of Causal and Evidential Decision Theory

Radical Theory ◽

Rational Decision Making ◽

Evidential Decision ◽

Theoretic Foundations

Evidential Decision Theory is a radical theory of rational decision-making. It recommends that instead of thinking about what your decisions *cause*, you should think about what they *reveal*. This Element explains in simple terms why thinking in this way makes a big difference, and argues that doing so makes for *better* decisions. An appendix gives an intuitive explanation of the measure-theoretic foundations of Evidential Decision Theory.

Causal vs. Evidential Decision Theory

An Introduction to Decision Theory ◽

10.1017/9781316585061.010 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 206-219

Keyword(s):

Decision Theory ◽

Diagnostic Preliminaries to Applying a Theory of Decision

SATS ◽

10.1515/sats-2013-0017 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Mariam Thalos

Keyword(s):

Decision Theory ◽

Formal Theory ◽

Causal Decision Theory ◽

End User ◽

Causal Decision ◽

Good Advice ◽

AbstractDecision theory cannot be a purely formal theory, free of all metaphysical assumptions and ascertainments. It must instead rely upon the end user for the wisdom it takes to prime the decision formalism – with principles and assumptions about the metaphysics of the application context – so that the formalism in its turn can generate good advice. Appreciating this idea is fundamental to understanding the true rivalry between evidential decision theory (EDT) and causal decision theory (CDT) in specific cases. I shall argue that no decision theory can deliver a verdict unless assumptions are made about the

Newcomb University: A play in one act

Analysis ◽

10.1093/analys/anz070 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 80 (2) ◽

pp. 212-221

Author(s):

Adam Elga

Keyword(s):

Decision Theory ◽

Error Theory ◽

Causal Decision Theory ◽

The Other ◽

Newcomb’S Problem ◽

Causal Decision ◽

Evidential Decision ◽

One Act

Abstract Counter-intuitive consequences of both causal decision theory and evidential decision theory are dramatized. Each of those theories is thereby put under some pressure to supply an error theory to explain away intuitions that seem to favour the other. Because trouble is stirred up for both sides, complacency about Newcomb’s problem is discouraged.

Egan and agents: How evidential decision theory can deal with Egan’s dilemma

Synthese ◽

10.1007/s11229-015-0661-0 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 192 (6) ◽

pp. 1883-1908 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Daniel Dohrn

Keyword(s):

Decision Theory ◽

An Evidential Decision Theory of Turnout

American Journal of Political Science ◽

10.2307/2111503 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 989 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Robert Grafstein

Keyword(s):

Decision Theory ◽

Objective Value Is Always Newcombizable

Mind ◽

10.1093/mind/fzz070 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 129 (516) ◽

pp. 1157-1192

Author(s):

Arif Ahmed ◽

Jack Spencer

Keyword(s):

Decision Theory ◽

Evidential Decision ◽

Objective Value

Abstract This paper argues that evidential decision theory is incompatible with options having objective values. If options have objective values, then it should always be rationally permissible for an agent to choose an option if they are certain that the option uniquely maximizes objective value. But, as we show, if options have objective values and evidential decision theory is true, then it is not always rationally permissible for an agent to choose an option if they are certain that the option uniquely maximizes objective value.

Equal Opportunities in Newcomb’s Problem and Elsewhere

Mind ◽

10.1093/mind/fzz073 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 129 (515) ◽

pp. 867-886

Author(s):

Arif Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Decision Theory ◽

Decision Problem ◽

Causal Decision Theory ◽

Decision Problems ◽

Equal Opportunities ◽

Main Claim ◽

Newcomb’S Problem ◽

Causal Decision ◽

Abstract The paper discusses Ian Wells’s recent argument (Wells 2019) that there is a decision problem in which followers of Evidential Decision Theory end up poorer than followers of Causal Decision Theory despite having the same opportunities for money. It defends Evidential Decision Theory against Wells’s argument, on the following grounds. (i) Wells's has not presented a decision problem in which his main claim is true. (ii) Four possible decision problems can be generated from his central example, in each of which followers of Evidential Decision Theory do at least as well as followers of Causal Decision Theory (but the former typically have better opportunities for money). (iii) There is another case in which followers of Causal Decision Theory have the same opportunities for making money but end up worse than followers of Evidential Decision Theory.