You have dug down 100 feet from the floor of an ancient Aztec temple. You find a small box. On the lid of this box is an inscription that reads:

"with in this box is the knowledge of creation, whom ever shall have this knowledge shall rule the universe but beware there is a small chance that opening the box will immediately destroy all of creation."
Next to the box is the key that opens the lid.
There is no other information, however you have every reason to believe what is said on the lid.

Question:

Do you open the box?
What are the reasons for your decision what ever they may be?

You have dug down 100 feet from the floor of an ancient Aztec temple. You find a small box. On the lid of this box is an inscription that reads:

"with in this box is the knowledge of creation, whom ever shall have this knowledge shall rule the universe but beware there is a small chance that opening the box will immediately destroy all of creation."
Next to the box is the key that opens the lid.
There is no other information, however you have every reason to believe what is said on the lid.

Question:

Do you open the box?
What are the reasons for your decision what ever they may be?

If i open the box either i will rule the universe or it destroys. Not much difference ; it is doomed either way.

If i don't open the box nothing will be lost.

I will destroy the box.

You have dug down 100 feet from the floor of an ancient Aztec temple. You find a small box. On the lid of this box is an inscription that reads:

"with in this box is the knowledge of creation, whom ever shall have this knowledge shall rule the universe but beware there is a small chance that opening the box will immediately destroy all of creation."
Next to the box is the key that opens the lid.
There is no other information, however you have every reason to believe what is said on the lid.

While I don't think I have every reason to believe what is said on the lid, my choice would be


Do you open the box?
What are the reasons for your decision what ever they may be?

Action: Don't open the box.
Why not: Superstition.


The situation you present is such that I can respond to it only with superstition, not with reason.

Yes, I open it.

Why?
1.) Because I believe in superstition only as far as the power it has over those people who believe in it. If I were "to believe it" what that would mean according to my current view of the universe right now, it would mean that I believe that the person who created/wrote it and his/her people believed it.
2.) As someone who loves anthropology, I wouldn't be able to pass up an opportunity to know what the Aztecs thought was the secret to all creation.
3.) If WAS true, then the warning kind of goes without saying. If anyone has the power to rule the Universe, the power to destroy all lies within their grasp.
4.) If everything gets destroyed, so what? No one will be around to remember it. It will be as if it never happened. It will be as if nothing ever happened.
5.) It would be fun.

Everneo,
would your decision be any different if the risk was so small a normal calculator could not calculte it?

would your decision be any different if the risk was so small a normal calculator could not calculte it?
Isn't there a tiny, barely calcuable, fraction of a risk that everything was going to end today, anyway, regadless of whether this box is opened?
So, what is different?
Like any other superstition, it has SOME chance of coming true by coincidence, so there really isn't any risk at all then, is there?

While I don't think I have every reason to believe what is said on the lid, my choice would be




Action: Don't open the box.
Why not: Superstition.


The situation you present is such that I can respond to it only with superstition, not with reason.

Water, is it only fear of the unknowable that stops you from opening the box?

The box does give a possible outcome, so I guess that is known, however is it worth the risk of loosing everything you have to become the ruler of the universe?

The question stems from how sometimes we are blinded by our own curiocity and ambitions. That we run the risk of loosing all we hold precious because of unwise curiocity....

The creator of the box is asking whether you would risk everything for something you don't have.
If you are prepared to risk the existence of the universe do you deserve to rule it?

Also another opposite slant:

"You can not truelly have something unless you are prepared to loose it"

Isn't there a tiny, barely calcuable, fraction of a risk that everything was going to end today, anyway, regadless of whether this box is opened?
So, what is different?
Like any other superstition, it has SOME chance of coming true by coincidence, so there really isn't any risk at all then, is there?
I agree, there is always a risk.
also a risk that somewhere another box exists as well....

I must admit I had no agenda for this thread...I just thought it would be interesting to discuss....and see where it leads...[ ha....curiocity]

Water, is it only fear of the unknowable that stops you from opening the box?

The box does give a possible outcome, so I guess that is known, however is it worth the risk of loosing everything you have to become the ruler of the universe?

The question stems from how sometimes we are blinded by our own curiocity and ambitions. That we run the risk of loosing all we hold precious because of unwise curiocity....

The creator of the box is asking whether you would risk everything for something you don't have.
If you are prepared to risk the existence of the universe do you deserve to rule it?

The situation you presented is that of superstition.

In psychology, tests of moral reasoning are normally tailored to real life situations.
I find it useless to ask "What would you do if a unicorn crossed your path?"

Leave the dreamery for the dreamers. You've got way too much time, using it on hypothetical like this.

:bugeye:

I'd open it out of curiosity. I wouldn't care for ruling the world or its end. The box may mean that once the one who opens it rules the world he may bring destruction to it (that's why the chance is there but it's not the definite outcome?).

The situation you presented is that of superstition.

In psychology, tests of moral reasoning are normally tailored to real life situations.
I find it useless to ask "What would you do if a unicorn crossed your path?"

Leave the dreamery for the dreamers. You've got way too much time, using it on hypothetical like this.

:bugeye:
One of the reasons I have been thinking about this question is regards to the exploding of the worlds first atomic weapon. I wondered if the scientists new for absolute certainty that the atomic blast would not set off a chain reaction and wipe out the Earths eco system.
I often wonder what must have been going through their minds as the count down approached zero.......
Like
"what if we have just destroyed the planet?" type questions....hmmmm

I wondered if the scientists new for absolute certainty that the atomic blast would not set off a chain reaction and wipe out the Earths eco system.
No. They didn't.
And yes, some of them at least, WERE worried about that.

One of the reasons I have been thinking about this question is regards to the exploding of the worlds first atomic weapon. I wondered if the scientists new for absolute certainty that the atomic blast would not set off a chain reaction and wipe out the Earths eco system.
I often wonder what must have been going through their minds as the count down approached zero.......
Like
"what if we have just destroyed the planet?" type questions....hmmmm

They didn't know for certain what would happen. They actually feared that they would set the atmosphere afire, and turn Earth into a fireball.

But, curiosity and politics were stronger than reason and fear, so they did it. And they happened to get away with it, for now.


Anyway, I apologize for my harsh criticism before. The situation as you presented it at first was unrealistic; the one with the A bomb is different.

As for me I would probably say
"who gives a rats arse about knowledge....pass me a beer!!!!"
"I already rule my universe!!" :)

I would probably be undecided and sit on it for a while.
The knowledge may be found in other ways with out the risk, but I wonder how is it possible to remove all risk from anti matter experiments or other more exotic energy experiments.

However just because we can't neutralise the risk 100 % doesn't mean we have to take that risk.

Anyway, I apologize for my harsh criticism before. The situation as you presented it at first was unrealistic; the one with the A bomb is different.
Actually grounding the topic as a gendanken only is quite a valid thing to do.

But the atomic test is a good example of risk taking I think. [ real world now]
Just like setting up Nuclear missile silos and hoping the cold war never got hot....

the thing is , the closer we get to this knowledge the greater the effect of the risk of that knowledge has.
The atomic test may have ended the universe for all we knew at the time any way.....

I'd open it out of curiosity. I wouldn't care for ruling the world or its end. The box may mean that once the one who opens it rules the world he may bring destruction to it (that's why the chance is there but it's not the definite outcome?).
Is interesting that you have limited the extent to just the world..although I do know what you mean....
No it's not a definite outcome but the chance of returning the universe to nothing is a rather daunting one yes? no matter how small....

i'd open it,pretty much solely because once i am curious about something it will bug me for the rest of my life if i dont find out.

I open it.

Is interesting that you have limited the extent to just the world..although I do know what you mean....
No it's not a definite outcome but the chance of returning the universe to nothing is a rather daunting one yes? no matter how small....
So everything that was created ceises to exist. And? That's not the most interesting part, to me. What a caterpillar calls the end of the world is called a butterfly by scientists. :D

So everything that was created ceises to exist. And? That's not the most interesting part, to me. What a caterpillar calls the end of the world is called a butterfly by scientists. :D
ha....... :D

Everneo,
would your decision be any different if the risk was so small a normal calculator could not calculte it?

If the odds are less than a trillionth, i might open the box hoping that i and the universe would not have that much 'bad luck' of getting destroyed with such negligible probablity.

If the odds are less than a trillionth, i might open the box hoping that i and the universe would not have that much 'bad luck' of getting destroyed with such negligible probablity.

I guess it is all really a matter of values. How important is it to know?

"How important is it to know?"

know what? probability? values? Please elaborate.

"How important is it to know?"

know what? probability? values? Please elaborate.

Everneo,

I dunno, sometimes I feel that it is the desire that we want more than that which we desire. We sometimes loose sight of what is of value. Does knowledge have enough value that it is worth risking my family and loved ones for?

Is knowledge just a mere commodity that can be traded for the material ?

After posing the thread question , I thought "F*ck this I am just going to go for a walk with my dog and watch a sunset!"

Some times I guess we need to keep what we value in perspective.

I do not need the knowledge of creation to enjoy my life and well If I don't need it then why open the box and risk that enjoyment.

So I am of many minds on the subject.

Quantum Quack:

Excellent hypothetical. Great topic!

"with in this box is the knowledge of creation, whom ever shall have this knowledge shall rule the universe but beware there is a small chance that opening the box will immediately destroy all of creation."
Next to the box is the key that opens the lid.
There is no other information, however you have every reason to believe what is said on the lid.

Question:

Do you open the box?
What are the reasons for your decision what ever they may be?

Ultimate knowledge and power is indeed something worth having. I cannot think of something more valuable. But at the same time, I ask this: To what end would this power really be useful for? One could satisfy everything one wants, yes, but cosmic ennui seems a great possibility. Nothing would even be a challenge anymore, nor would there be any aspiration towards a thing.

One_Raven:

3.) If WAS true, then the warning kind of goes without saying. If anyone has the power to rule the Universe, the power to destroy all lies within their grasp.

Good point.

Whitewolf:

One of the reasons I have been thinking about this question is regards to the exploding of the worlds first atomic weapon. I wondered if the scientists new for absolute certainty that the atomic blast would not set off a chain reaction and wipe out the Earths eco system.
I often wonder what must have been going through their minds as the count down approached zero.......
Like
"what if we have just destroyed the planet?" type questions....hmmmm

Funny you should speak about that. They actually thought it a possibility that the extreme heat and pressure would trigger the ignition of the atmosphere.

So everything that was created ceises to exist. And? That's not the most interesting part, to me. What a caterpillar calls the end of the world is called a butterfly by scientists.

Well put.

Another question springs forth:
What does ruling the universe really mean any way....she's a bloody big place to rule....assume millions of cultures and what does ruling all that mean.?
[ sounds a bit like a star wars saga continued but even the federation is a small mote in the scale of things.....]

I dunno, sometimes I feel that it is the desire that we want more than that which we desire. We sometimes loose sight of what is of value. Does knowledge have enough value that it is worth risking my family and loved ones for?

Personally i won't risk my family (in this case it is the entire universe) for knowledge especially when the odds are not known.

Is knowledge just a mere commodity that can be traded for the material ?

Depends on how desperate we are in acquiring that knowledge ( here the accompanying power might add to desperation).

Some times I guess we need to keep what we value in perspective.

I agree.

I do not need the knowledge of creation to enjoy my life and well If I don't need it then why open the box and risk that enjoyment.

What about power?

"What about Power?"


hmmmmm......if power is absolute is it really power.....[thought comes to mind]

hmmmmm...sorry I'll get my thoughts together and post again.....

definition of power is needed I think.......

if power is absolute is it really power
Why not?

Do you open the box?
What are the reasons for your decision what ever they may be?

I would open the box out of sheer curiosity of what's inside.

Do you open the box?
What are the reasons for your decision what ever they may be?


I don't open the box. I have no wish to rule the universe, I'm too inperfect.
I destroy the box, so noone else has the chance to rule.

This sounds like a metaphor for scientific knowledge, which gives us powers, but can be dangerous. I would open it.

If the universe can be created once, it can be created again.

You have dug down 100 feet from the floor of an ancient Aztec temple. You find a small box. On the lid of this box is an inscription that reads:

"with in this box is the knowledge of creation, whom ever shall have this knowledge shall rule the universe but beware there is a small chance that opening the box will immediately destroy all of creation."
Next to the box is the key that opens the lid.
There is no other information, however you have every reason to believe what is said on the lid.

Question:

Do you open the box?
What are the reasons for your decision what ever they may be?
No.
I'll light it on fire. That's not opening it, technically, but it's destroying it.

Yes, but I see more danger in the "ruling" bit, not the knowledge.
Knowledge by itself does not give the power to rule.

There is no other information, however you have every reason to believe what is said on the lid.
The two clauses in this sentence are mutually exclusive - they can't both be true.

Some have argued that if the risk is so small then why heed the warning.

The interesting thing is :
At what level does the risk of destroying everything become acceptable?

Obviously if I said that the risk was 50/50 then it might be unacceptable but if I said 1 in a trillion it becomes more acceptable.

So at what level would the risk become acceptable is a reasonable question I feel.

posted by one_raven:
Isn't there a tiny, barely calcuable, fraction of a risk that everything was going to end today, anyway, regadless of whether this box is opened?
It could be argued as One_raven has mentioned that there is always an ongoing risk at all times regardless of the box. Would the risk be deemed as acceptable if the risk was less that the ongoing "normal" or "common" risk.
And would it be acceptable to be the one person responsibile for a negative outcome reagrdless of the risk?

Quantum Quack:

Ultimate knowledge and power is indeed something worth having. I cannot think of something more valuable. But at the same time, I ask this: To what end would this power really be useful for? One could satisfy everything one wants, yes, but cosmic ennui seems a great possibility. Nothing would even be a challenge anymore, nor would there be any aspiration towards a thing.


The ultimate power, that comes with ultimate knowledge is I agree an attractive proposition. The question though is about wisdom and how that wisdom is needed to use that ultimate power and knowledge.
How often in books of fiction and film do we see where the quest for power and knowledge becomes self destructive because wisdom has been lacking not only in the quest but in the use.
A crazy Jim Carrey film "Bruce Almighty" is but one fictional example of how a man achieves ultimate power but stuffs up big time because of a lack of wisdom.

An interesting question came to mind:

If you had absolute power over an assumed millions of different cultures would you aspire to democracy...a sort of autocratic democracy, not unlike the UK's monachy?
or would you rule in a totalitarian style?

prince james said:
One could satisfy everything one wants, yes, but cosmic ennui seems a great possibility. Nothing would even be a challenge anymore, nor would there be any aspiration towards a thing.
but is this not where widsom comes to the fore?
If you were wise would you not rule in a way that gave you plenty to do?

I would suggest that if you ruled in a totalitarian way cosmic ennui would set in and eventually destroy your rule and possibly everything else.

Contention:
The greatest asset you have is not your power but the creativity of those you rule.

To inspire their creativity would be a valid occupation I think.
In another thread I have contended that freewill is manifested in creativity, as we improvise our way through all lifes situations.

To rule in absolutum would impinge on freewill there fore creativity and if this were the case a lot of effort would be required to maintain that rule. However if the rulers mission was to enhance freewill then less effort would be needed to maintain that rule. [ certainly cheaper and more fun ]

So therefore the freedom of those you rule becomes paramount and in your best interests as a ruler.

Of course this touches on what may be the attributes of God and concepts of Grace and freewill, and how God and freewill can be quite compatible concepts but that is for another thread I guess.

"The Ruler [ God ] provides the stage upon which all life can dance upon"
[ I am sure the above is not at all original]

" Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth" Ludwig Borne

Damn, I've lost the key.

Damn, I've lost the key.
ouch!!! :D

Quantum Quack:

How often in books of fiction and film do we see where the quest for power and knowledge becomes self destructive because wisdom has been lacking not only in the quest but in the use.
A crazy Jim Carrey film "Bruce Almighty" is but one fictional example of how a man achieves ultimate power but stuffs up big time because of a lack of wisdom.

Indeed, unwise actions with ultimate power would have devestating results, but feasiably, one could also reverse any said devestating results. You have a bit of leeway when one is God, no?

An interesting question came to mind:

If you had absolute power over an assumed millions of different cultures would you aspire to democracy...a sort of autocratic democracy, not unlike the UK's monachy?
or would you rule in a totalitarian style?

Assuming I had all power and control over the universe, and this also gave me ultimate knowledge, there is very little reason why I wouldn't be infinitely more qualified for all sorts of leadership than then mortal and limited people of the universe, no?

I'd go way public with it, and all the anthropologists would be drooling all over it. Maybe I'd score something wth Discovery Channel. Then, in front of all the TV cameras, and the press conference and everything, I'd set it on fire. Then piss on the ashes.

I'd probably get so stiff, I'd end up whipping out my huge erection and jacking off right there. And it'd all be caught on film.

I'd be an instant porn star.

Fame, fortune, and cocaine would be short to follow.

Let's hear it for mystic Aztec boxes!

You have dug down 100 feet from the floor of an ancient Aztec temple. You find a small box. On the lid of this box is an inscription that reads:

"with in this box is the knowledge of creation, whom ever shall have this knowledge shall rule the universe but beware there is a small chance that opening the box will immediately destroy all of creation."
Next to the box is the key that opens the lid.
There is no other information, however you have every reason to believe what is said on the lid.

Question:

Do you open the box?
What are the reasons for your decision what ever they may be?
I would open it. I'm too curious not too.

Which risk? :confused:

Yaba Daba :m:

I'd go way public with it, and all the anthropologists would be drooling all over it. Maybe I'd score something wth Discovery Channel. Then, in front of all the TV cameras, and the press conference and everything, I'd set it on fire. Then piss on the ashes.

I'd probably get so stiff, I'd end up whipping out my huge erection and jacking off right there. And it'd all be caught on film.

I'd be an instant porn star.

Fame, fortune, and cocaine would be short to follow.

Let's hear it for mystic Aztec boxes!
*smoking a fatty*

Cooooooooll....!!! :cool:

Yaba Daba :m:

"daba" in latvian means "nature"
I'm drunk so I can offtopic :m:

Yes, but I see more danger in the "ruling" bit, not the knowledge.
Knowledge by itself does not give the power to rule.
If opening the box would make you omniscient, the "ruling" bit would not be really an issue.

Well... unless you are a maniac.... :D

Yaba Daba :m:

If you had absolute power over an assumed millions of different cultures would you aspire to democracy...a sort of autocratic democracy, not unlike the UK's monachy?
or would you rule in a totalitarian style?
What do yoiu think? No human, no matter how moralistic, can refuse the allure of absolute power, except a chosen few. One of them would be George Washington, another would be just about any monarch who abdicated willingly, such as Charles V.

"daba" in latvian means "nature"
I'm drunk so I can offtopic :m:
What is Yaba!?!? What is Yaba!?!?

Yaba Daba :m:

Well... unless you are a maniac...
Who knows..

-----
There is no letter "y" in our alphabeth.

Damn!

The question is interesting.

If we consider the initial condition, the chooser is outside the box with free will, and presumably outside the 'universe' described within the box. Kind of like a god.

Given the opportunity, I'd take the chance of using the key to get myself into this universe. I'd use my status to acquire a Lamborghini. Anything extra would be playing dice, and we know that god doesn't do such things.

(However, as I'vd been given ALL knowledge, I'd postulate a 'Certainty Principle' and work out everything, meddle with things from the discomfort of my Lamborghini, then get bored and set about creating beings to ask questions like this one.)

PS How certain can I be that the key fits the lock? After all, there may be quite a few boxes and keys.

i would choose to bury the box where no man could find it and never look within,

and yes i swear by my honor, i would not look inside and conceal it destroying all of that life i just could not do no matter the "prize".

I find it hard enough managing a small team of workers, let alone ruling an entire universe. lol .

I'd take the key, thus preventing some mindless idiot from either blowing us all up or ruling us on the basis that he opened a box.

peace

c20

The question is interesting.

If we consider the initial condition, the chooser is outside the box with free will, and presumably outside the 'universe' described within the box. Kind of like a god.

Given the opportunity, I'd take the chance of using the key to get myself into this universe. I'd use my status to acquire a Lamborghini. Anything extra would be playing dice, and we know that god doesn't do such things.

(However, as I'vd been given ALL knowledge, I'd postulate a 'Certainty Principle' and work out everything, meddle with things from the discomfort of my Lamborghini, then get bored and set about creating beings to ask questions like this one.)

PS How certain can I be that the key fits the lock? After all, there may be quite a few boxes and keys.

Reading your post remined me of another connundrum.

We have a impregnable safe. It has a simple security system.

"It only locks if you attempt to open it."

Story:

In the middle of a football field is a safe. You know that in the safe is billions of dollars worth of treasure. The door is unlocked. You approach the safe but as you get to the door the door locks and can't be opened. As soon as you give up the door unlocks and after a few attempts you realise that it is the attempt to open the door that locks it.

So how do you get to the treasure inside?
Btw I have no idea as to what the solution is.....but maybe you do?
this is similar to the tale of King Authur and Camelot [ the sword and the rock]

another thing:
re:box and key.

The key may fit the box but does this guarrantee that the box will fit the key?

So how do you get to the treasure inside?
1 - By force
2 - To "trick" the lock, it is necessary to determine the precise method of detection - how does the door "know" that an attempt to open it is being made? If the detection mechanism isn't defined, then no solution is possible. Any deliberate solution would be by definition an attempt to open the safe, which could potentially trigger the lock.

The key may fit the box but does this guarrantee that the box will fit the key?
Yes, unless you mean something different by "fit" than the obvious meaning.

ha....
Maybe the solution is simply take the complete safe and put it in another safe and use the original safe as collateral for finance to the value of it's contents. [ even though you can't get to the contents]

The question is a philosophical question, probably falling under the subgroup of Zenisms.

If the safe locks every time you attempt to open it this suggests the issue of futility and frustration of desire.
If the contents are unreachable then the contents have no value. So why desire something that has no value?
The contents only have a value we place upon them.

As to the box fitting the Key:

You may have the key to the knowledge in the box but does the knowledge fit with you? [ the knowledge may very well turn you insane ]

No point having all the knowledge if you can't use it....sort of thing...

I would open that box and hope for the best. There is hardly any risk I would not take for what is described an almost complete knowledge. As for running the universe, I would pass on that option.

Possibly I have an answer to the safe scenario.
As the safe locks only because of your intent to open it, then the way to get to open the safe is not to intend to do to.
Attach a rope to the door somehow and wait for someone else to accidently trip over it, thus the other person accidently opens the safe for you.....hmmmm...cute!! :)

I'd open it.
The results make no difference to me either way.
Reason for opening?
Curiosity...

Possibly I have an answer to the safe scenario.
As the safe locks only because of your intent to open it, then the way to get to open the safe is not to intend to do to.
Attach a rope to the door somehow and wait for someone else to accidently trip over it, thus the other person accidently opens the safe for you.....hmmmm...cute!! :)

No way, mate.

Why would you attach a rope to the door somehow and wait for someone to accidentally trip over it, thus opening the door, hm?
Is it not because of your intent to open the box? Hm?

You can't plan innocence. Relegating the act does not remove your intent for the act.

So I guess whilst the rope is attached the safe will stay locked....even if I have forgotten about it....ha...

weellll I guess we worked out how to keep it locked permanently at least..... :p

Id open it, if all of creation was instantly destroyed noone would ever care... plus if creation wasnt destroyed i think i might actually do some good ;)

Just noticed some references to the A-Bomb and it potentially causing wide spread destruction.

Only the scientifically naive had worries about some wide spread catastrophe.

Some physicists had worries that it would not go off at all. None worried about a chain reaction causing a wide spread catastrophe. The mathematics indicated a certain amount of energy release and nothing more was expected.It would be ludicrous to expect a fission weapon (Atom Bomb) to cause a chain reaction in anything but a heavy radioactive element like radium, uranium, et cetera. Since these elements are so rare, a physicist is ROFLOL on this issue.



It is merely a joke to expect a fusion weapon (Hydrogen Bomb) to cause a chain reaction in the ocean. Since there is a lot of hydrogen in the ocean, a physicist is only LOL on this one.

It sounds like it is a classical case of Desire vs. Consequence ,
almost like the "box of Pandora" ......

You are the president and the country is in war - you really,really want to win this war but you are loosing - however you have a computerbox with only one button (with the inscription " fire all " ) - it controls 20000 nuclear warheads - you are sure to win the war by pressing the button - but there is a small risk that the world will be destroyed - do you press the button ?

How could you not open it.....

I mean I'm sure somewhere there is a christian or any other religous follower for that matter, going read this book it contains the secrets of the universe. What would make the Aztecs any different.

Is the box open yet?

i would open it, if you htink about it as a religios stand point, god doesent really od anyhting, jsut cracks a beer, ad thats what soem peopel would do, thus not ending the unaverse, lol

on another note, how do we know the A bomb didint destroy the world? this coukld all be soemones fantasys hwale hee is burning up i nthe last 2 or 3 seconds of earths last minites couldnt it?

I would open the box if there were a 90% chance of total destruction. Because I <I>really</I> do want to find out the secret of creation, or whatever theory of the origin of the Universe. If I let go of this chance, it would be nearly equivalent to death, as far as I'm concerned. And my death is the only thing that bothers me as far the destruction of the universe is concerned. So better open it.

Rosnet: If an individual is given the opportunity to destroy the world, pehaps the world deserves destruction for being stupid.

Stupidty should be painful .