There is a glass of poison which, if you drink it, will make you violently ill for twelve hours, after which time you will suffer no long term effects.
There is a lie detector that is completely accurate.
You are offered 37 million dollars to pass the following test.
At midnight you will be asked the question “Will you drink the poison later this morning?”
If you answer “Yes” and you are not lying then the money will be immediately transferred to a bank account you nominate.
Later in the morning you are not obliged to drink the poison, regardless of your intentions at midnight. That is, if you answer “Yes“ truthfully then you will be paid immediately and the test is over, you don't actually have to drink the poison.
The accurate lie detector will test your response. If you don't answer “Yes“ truthfully then you will not get the money.
Can you get the money?
p.s. I had a mate ask me this, and he swore you can't get the money.
I can get the money. ;)
p.p.s. It's a stupid scenario for a whole bunch of reasons, I know that. Just assume the premises given could be valid, including the implicit assumption that it is possible for humans to have durable and firm intentions.
Anyone could get the money until paragraph six; then it gets trickier, but it's hardly impossible. Why would it be impossible?
Also, your mate didn't say 37 million -- that's pure John. :)
"Also, your mate didn't say 37 million -- that's pure John"
True. But who could bring themselves to drink poison for a measly million dollars? Really. :)
It's easy to get the money. Decide to drink the poison for 37 million. Answer the question as to whether you'll drink the poison with "Yes".
Then you'll get paid. Then you can go to sleep. Then when you wake up in the morning you drink the poison. You're violently ill for 12 hours and 37 million dollars wealthiers for it.
If you intend to drink the poison, then you have to drink it.
Squeze speling.