Newcomb's Paradox

You and a friend are presented with two boxes. The first box is transparent and contains $1,000. The other box is opaque and either contains nothing or $1 million. A mysterious benefactor offers you this choice and tells you that you may choose to take both boxes or just the opaque box.

"However," your generous benefactor cautions, "If I expected you to take both boxes, I have left the opaque box empty -- you get only the $1,000." The mysterious person continues. "If I predicted that you would take only the opaque box, then I have placed $1 million in that box. You will get it all."

You and your friend begin to discuss what to do. Your friend wants to take just the opaque box. You argue that the benefactor has already made his prediction -- the million dollars is either in the opaque box or it is not. It is not going to change. Whose argument is more correct?

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