1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910457130603321

Autore

Sigmund Karl <1945->

Titolo

The calculus of selfishness [[electronic resource] /] / Karl Sigmund

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Princeton, NJ, : Princeton University Press, c2010

ISBN

1-282-45880-9

9786612458804

1-4008-3225-X

Edizione

[Course Book]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (185 p.)

Collana

Princeton series in theoretical and computational biology

Disciplina

306.3/4

Soggetti

Game theory

Cooperativeness - Moral and ethical aspects

Evolution (Biology) - Mathematics

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface -- Chapter One. Introduction: Social Traps and Simple Games -- Chapter Two. Game Dynamics and Social Learning -- Chapter Three. Direct Reciprocity: The Role of Repetition -- Chapter Four. Indirect Reciprocity: The Role of Reputation -- Chapter Five. Fairness and Trust: The Power of Incentives -- Chapter Six. Public Goods and Joint Efforts: Between Freedom and Enforcement -- Chapter Seven. Cooperation in Structured Populations -- References -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

How does cooperation emerge among selfish individuals? When do people share resources, punish those they consider unfair, and engage in joint enterprises? These questions fascinate philosophers, biologists, and economists alike, for the "invisible hand" that should turn selfish efforts into public benefit is not always at work. The Calculus of Selfishness looks at social dilemmas where cooperative motivations are subverted and self-interest becomes self-defeating. Karl Sigmund, a pioneer in evolutionary game theory, uses simple and well-known game theory models to examine the foundations of collective action and the effects of reciprocity and reputation. Focusing on some of the best-known social and economic experiments, including games such as



the Prisoner's Dilemma, Trust, Ultimatum, Snowdrift, and Public Good, Sigmund explores the conditions leading to cooperative strategies. His approach is based on evolutionary game dynamics, applied to deterministic and probabilistic models of economic interactions. Exploring basic strategic interactions among individuals guided by self-interest and caught in social traps, The Calculus of Selfishness analyzes to what extent one key facet of human nature--selfishness--can lead to cooperation.