[CrackMonkey] A cool problem

[Seth David Schoen]

Mike Goldman writes:

> Seth David Schoen wrote:
> 
> > n people are captured by an adversary and told that, after this scenario
> > has been explained to them, they may mutally agree on a strategy (with the
> > adversary listening to all their discussions) and then use it to try to
> > save as many people as possible.
> 
> I've arrived too late to contribute to the straightforward analysis of the
> problem, the awe inspiringly correct solution to which has already been provided
> by the incomparable Mr. Bad (to whom I bow deeply).  But it seems to me that
> there is an unfounded assumption here, that one must A) obey the rules as stated,
> and B) expect the adversary to do the same.
> 
> In any case, considering the matter metarationally, if I and all of my fellows
> cooperate with the game as given to us, we will lend encouragement to the
> adversary to continue with his evil scheme to harness our mental powers to his
> advantage, while not only denying us fair compensation, but murdering us one or
> more at a time, until eventually we shall all not merely be dead, but enslaved
> until that time.  It must not be!  No!

	A strange scene you describe, and strange prisoners, he said.

	Like ourselves, I replied.

-- 
Seth David Schoen <schoen at loyalty.org>  | And do not say, I will study when I
Temp.  http://www.loyalty.org/~schoen/  | have leisure; for perhaps you will
down:  http://www.loyalty.org/   (CAF)  | not have leisure.  -- Pirke Avot 2:5