2016-05-10

Finding the Cure - Thought Experiment - Part 2 of 3

Part 2

A different situation...
Imagine that the United States is preparing for the outbreak of an unusual disease which has already claimed many victims in Asia, which is expected to kill 600 people. Two alternative programs to combat the disease have been proposed. Assume the the exact scientific estimates of the consequences of the programs are as follows:

If program A' is adopted, 400 people will die. If program B' is adopted, there is a one-third probability that nobody will die and a two-thirds probability that 600 people will die.

You are the surgeon general, and the decision is yours. Do you choose program A' or program B'?

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Looking for Part 1? Click Here.
Looking for Part 3? Click Here.

References:
Daniel Kahneman presented this thought experiment in his book "Thinking, Fast and Slow" http://smile.amazon.com/dp/0374533555
Photo: San Francisco Department of Public Health http://www.sfcdcp.org

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