Redefining wrong is easiest in situations where we know the mathematical facts in advance. In the charity-tournament final-table example with the players’ cards faceup, or when I get all my chips in with the best possible starting hand, the hidden information is removed. We can make a clear calculation. If we have that unquestionably right and make an allocation of resources (a bet) on the calculation, we can more naturally get to “I wasn’t wrong just because it didn’t turn out well and I shouldn’t change my behavior.” When the chances are known, we are tethered more tightly to a rational
...more