Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
quantamagazine.org
Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
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Re: Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
#2Rather amusing title since it could be reworded as "Game theory still fails to explain biology." We know organisms cooperate. The fact that we consistently fail to find reasons to cooperate in game theory suggests that the simplifying assumptions that it makes are incorrect. To give only one example, what happens when agents can choose from among a set of games to play with opponents with known histories?
Re: Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
#3> In a single instance of the prisoner’s dilemma, the best strategy is to defect — squeal on your partner and you’ll get less time.
No, that is not right, if it was there would be no dilemma, and this subject would not be discussed ad nauseam. The whole point is that the situation is symmetrical for both players, they should reach the same conclusion and act the same way... and using the strategy of cooperation their outcome is better than defecting.
Re: Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
#4> In a single instance of the prisoner’s dilemma, the best strategy is to defect — squeal on your partner and you’ll get less time. No, that is not right, if it was there would be no dilemma, and this subject would not be discussed ad nauseam. The whole point is that the situation is symmetrical for both players, they should reach the same conclusion and act the same way ... and using the strategy of cooperation thei…
Depending on the risks a somewhat random strategy can work out really well. IE if both defect they both get 10 years if none defect both get 9 years, and if one defects the other gets 15 years. Now if they both defect 10% of the time the 19% of the time there better off collectively as 9+9 > 15 saving 3 years and 1% of the time there worse off by 2 years collectively.
Re: Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
#5Perhaps "cooperation brings game theory into question" would be a better title?
Re: Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
#6Perhaps "cooperation brings game theory into question" would be a better title?
article title is terrible, agreed
Re: Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
#7The question I was left with is, what conditions do you introduce into an evolving population that make cooperation more beneficial than extortion? They talked about just introducing random conditions or mutations but I wonder if the ones that led to (cooperation beating extortion) had any sort of pattern.
Re: Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
#8Yes, this is a quip:
Carrot and stick: The two poles of community (of the community magnet).
Re: Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
#9Rather amusing title since it could be reworded as "Game theory still fails to explain biology." We know organisms cooperate. The fact that we consistently fail to find reasons to cooperate in game theory suggests that the simplifying assumptions that it makes are incorrect. To give only one example, what happens when agents can choose from among a set of games to play with opponents with known histories?
Exactly correct. Why play with cheaters?
The fundamental flaw in applying game theory to biology is to constrain the possible outcomes when unfairness is detected. In game theory, all you can do is change your strategy for the next round; in reality, we have multiple punishments to bring to bear, such as refusing to play, public shaming, fines, imprisonment, killing, etc.
Game theory is only an "ok" model of cooperation/competition in real life.
Re: Game Theory Calls Cooperation Into Question
#10> In a single instance of the prisoner’s dilemma, the best strategy is to defect — squeal on your partner and you’ll get less time. No, that is not right, if it was there would be no dilemma, and this subject would not be discussed ad nauseam. The whole point is that the situation is symmetrical for both players, they should reach the same conclusion and act the same way ... and using the strategy of cooperation thei…
Cooperating is strongly dominated by defecting in Prisoners Dilemma. This is an obvious and very basic game theory result.
Game Theory models strategic situations and doesn't offer insight outside what is modeled. If you think there should be communication supporting cooperation in the game, that game is NOT the Prisoners Dilemma and is in fact another game.
The Prisoners Dilemma is a model that is stacked very much against cooperation. Think about it, the prisoners are held in separate rooms and not allowed to communicate at all in the original story.