Game theory is a theory that is completely based on logic and reason. It creates a solution to find an optimal situation for an individual within a community assuming that everyone in that community is a reasonable and logical person. For example, imagine the following scenario:
-There is a community of three equally starving people.
-There are four pies, one of which is significantly larger than the rest.
-Each person can only choose one pie without letting any others know their choice.
-No one gets any pies if two or more people choose the larger pie.
In this scenario, game theory states that all three people should forfeit the larger pie choose one of the smaller pies. This is because it would be unreasonable for someone to want the larger pie due to the risk of not getting any pies. The reasonable act will always be the one that most benefits the community, and thus creates the most benefits for the individual.
Unfortunately, game theory rarely applies to real life situations. There is no perfect community full of people with reason. There will always be people who discard reason for greed or emotional influence. As our textbook states as the “crisis of reason”, irrational feelings cannot be justified without an argument using reason. Furthermore, it would be futile to explain the importance of reason to an irrational person for the same reason that it is futile to explain anything to them. In the end, it is up to those who are logical and reasonable to carry through correct decisions so that their community can survive.
This view may seem incredibly cynical against those who are unable to think rationally. However, it is not as if I mean to say that they shouldn't be allowed to exist. It is only realistic that people would want the larger pie. People who follow greed or emotions over reason can still contribute to their community. However, a community would be that much more efficient if it fully consisted of reasonable people. Game theory may not be perfect, but imagine a community full of individuals who think of nothing but the greater benefit of their own community. It would be reasonably nice wouldn't it?
Finals week...
14 years ago
2 comments:
I like your explanation and example of game theory. It'd be hard to imagine a completely rational world. I do think that irrationality makes life a little more interesting. I like that you say game theory is not perfect because I do think emotions should factor into a lot of decisions. If one of the pies is pecan and everyone knows starving person #2 loves pecan pie maybe the others let him have that.
Your post is smart and informed. But what about this sentence: "There is no perfect community full of people with reason." Don't we consider 'reason', though, as a human trait? I mean I know that there are exceptions, but isn't reason supposed to be a 'general' (if not 'universal') human quality? If so, isn't it just a matter of people learning to utilize their rationale capacities to make decisions and form communities? This is an interesting topic, and I really appreciated the game theory example.
Post a Comment