game theory
An academic field of study about winning and losing that maps out an equilibrium of all possible outcomes of a given game. It's actually quite often exaggerated and misunderstood because people don't understand the relationship of the "story" (the prisoner's dilemma, hawk/dove war game) to the game theory itself, which often involves simple numbers such as +5, 0 -10.
Despite the confusion, it's extremely useful when correctly applied. It has many applications in the study of evolution, crime prevention, commerce, and other practical uses.
Despite the confusion, it's extremely useful when correctly applied. It has many applications in the study of evolution, crime prevention, commerce, and other practical uses.
Example:
Sue: I learned today that all people are evil, because in the Prisoner's Dilemma of game theory, it is in everyone's best interest to rat out their friends to the police.
Frank: Sue, the story attached to the Dilemma is a work of fiction which gives the exercise a point of discussion, but actually it does not reflect our justice system or the philosophical questions of humanity's goodness.
Sue: I learned today that all people are evil, because in the Prisoner's Dilemma of game theory, it is in everyone's best interest to rat out their friends to the police.
Frank: Sue, the story attached to the Dilemma is a work of fiction which gives the exercise a point of discussion, but actually it does not reflect our justice system or the philosophical questions of humanity's goodness.