Expected Utility

A rational decision maker will, when presented with a choice, take the action with the greatest expected utility. Von Neumann and Morgenstern provided [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Morgenstern_utility_theorem#The_axioms| 4 basic axioms of rationality]rationality. They also proved the expected utility theorem, which states a rational agent ought to have preferences that maximize his total utility. Humans often deviate from rationality due to inconsistent preferences or the existence of cognitive biases.

Created by steven0461 at 4y

A rational decision maker will, when presented with a choice, take the action with the greatest expected utility. Von Neumann and Morgenstern provided [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Morgenstern_utility_theorem#The_axioms| 4 basic axioms of rationality]. They also proved the expected utility theorem, which states a rational agent ought to have preferences that maximize his total utility. Humans often deviate from rationality due to inconsistent preferences or the existence of cognitive biases cognitive biases.

A rational decision maker will, when presented with a choice, take the action with the greatest expected utility. Von Neumann and Morgenstern provided [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Morgenstern_utility_theorem#The_axioms| 4 basic axioms of rationality]. Under these axioms, theyThey also proved the expected utility theorem, which says that exists a utility function defined on possible outcomes and every decision maker's preferences are characterized by maximizing the expected value of the function. The expected utility hypothesis holds that these axioms truly model the notion ofstates a rational agent. Either way, humansagent ought to have preferences that maximize his total utility. Humans often deviate from rationality due to inconsistent preferences or the existence of cognitive biases cognitive biases.

A rational decision maker will, when presented with a choice, take the action with the greatest expected utility. Von Neumann and Morgenstern provided [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Morgenstern_utility_theorem#The_axioms| 4 basic axioms of rationality]. Under these axioms, they proved the expected utility theorem, which says that exists a utility function defined on possible outcomes and every decision maker's preferences are characterized by maximizing the expected value of the function. The expected utility hypothesis holds that these axioms truly model the notion of a rational agent. Either way, humans often deviate from ratinality by committingrationality due to inconsistent preferences or the existence of cognitive biases cognitive biases.

A rational decision maker will, when presented with a choice, take the action with the greatest expected utility. Von Neumann and Morgenstern provided [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Morgenstern_utility_theorem#The_axioms| 4 basic axioms of rationality]. Under thisthese axioms, they proved the expected utility theorem, which says that there exists a utility function defined on possible outcomes and every decision maker's preferences are characterized by maximizing the expected value of the function. The expected utility hypothesis holds that thisthese axioms truly model the notion of a rational agent. Either way, humans often deviate from ratinality by committing cognitive biases.

A rational decision maker will, when presented with a choice, take the action with the greatest expected utility. Von Neumann and Morgenstern provided [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Morgenstern_utility_theorem#The_axioms| 4 basic axioms of rationality]. Under this axioms, they proved the expected utility theorem, which says that there exists a utility function defined on possible outcomes and every decision maker's preferences are characterized by maximizing the expected value of the function. The | expected utility hypothesis holds that this axioms truly model the notion of a rational agent. Either way, humans often deviate from ratinality by committing cognitive biases.

A rational decision maker will, when presented with a choice, take the action with the greatest expected utility. Von Neumann and Morgenstern provided [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Morgenstern_utility_theorem#The_axioms| 4 basic axioms of rationality]. Under this axioms, they proved the expected utility theorem, which says that there exists a utility function defined on possible outcomes and every decision maker's preferences are characterized by maximizing the expected value of the function. The | expected utility hypothesis holds that this axioms truly model the notion of a rational agent. Either way, humans often deviate from ratinality by committing | cognitive biases.

A rational decision maker will, when presented with a choice, take the action with the greatest expected utility. Von Neumann and Morgenstern provided [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Morgenstern_utility_theorem#The_axioms| 4 basic axioms of rationality]. Under this axioms, they proved the expected utility theorem, which says that there exists a utility function defined on possible outcomes and every decision maker's preferences are characterized by maximizing the expected value of the function. The | expected utility hypothesis holds that this axioms truly model the notion of a rational agent. Either way, humans often deviate from ratinality by committing [[bias]|cognitive biases]biases.

A rational decision maker will, when presented with a choice, take the action with the greatest expected utility. Von Neumann and Morgenstern provided [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Morgenstern_utility_theorem#The_axioms| 4 basic axioms of rationality]. Under this axioms, they proved the expected utility theorem, which says that whenthere exists a utility function defined on possible outcomes and every decision maker's preferences are characterized by maximizing the expected value of the function. The | expected utility hypothesis holds that this axioms truly model the notion of a rational agent chooses between different "gambles" (probability distributions over outcomes), the utility of such a gamble can always be seen as the expected utility of the gamble's outcome.

Humans, of course, are a different story.agent. Either way, humans often deviate from ratinality by committing [[bias]|cognitive biases].

Expected utility is the expected value in terms of the utility produced by an action. Each possible consequenceIt is the sum of the action is assigned a utility of each of its possible consequences, individually weighted by a utility function and weighed by thetheir respective probability of that outcome occurring. The sum of these weighed utilities is defined to be the action's expected utility.occurrence.

Expected utility is the expected value in terms of the utility produced by an action. Each possible consequence of the action is assigned a utility by a utility function. and weighed by the probability of that outcome occurring. The sum of these weighed utilities is defined to be the action's expected utility.

By Stuart Armstrong:

"Expected utility" just means the expected value of a utility function.

Von Neumann and Morgenstern proved the expected utility theorem, which says that when a rational agent chooses between different "gambles" (probability distributions over outcomes), the utility of such a gamble can always be seen as the expected utility of the gamble's outcome.

Humans, of course, are a different story.

See Also