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Magnitude-sensitivity: rethinking decision-making
Angelo Pirrone1, Andreagiovanni Reina2, Tom Stafford3
1Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
Abstract:
Magnitude-sensitivity refers to the result that performance in decision-making, across domains and organisms, is affected by the total value of the possible alternatives. This simple result offers a window into fundamental issues in decision-making and has led to a reconsideration of ecological decision-making, prominent computational models of decision-making, and optimal decision-making. Moreover, magnitude-sensitivity has inspired the design of new robotic systems that exploit natural solutions and apply optimal decision-making policies. In this article, we review the key theoretical and empirical results about magnitude-sensitivity and highlight the importance that this phenomenon has for the understanding of decision-making. Furthermore, we discuss open questions and ideas for future research.
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