It's curious you bring up the Prisoner's Dilemma. For those unfamiliar, this is a a basic exercise in game theory. Those interested can wiki or otherwise look up the term. For the present discussion,
Ryan's comment is not strictly accurate and bears a little clarification. In a social trap, an individual's best choice actually IS the one in his best interest. The problem is that this rationally selfish choice produces a non-optimal cost on a group. Ryan would be correct if he said the selfish choice works against the AVERAGE outcome.
While game theory sounds rather abstract, it actually has very many practical real-world implications and is a key part of many fields, including sociology and psychology.
I'd also disagree with Ryan on one final point: Making the selfish choice is probably most often the right one (from the individual's point of view.) When a system is in place to aid optimal outcomes for all (social rules, customs, laws, and so on), this actually requires the conscious consent of the individual, or equivalently good training, so that he will choose the action that produces the optimal outcome for all, not just the best for him, right now. In other words, being "selfish" is not always a bad thing, but it is IF the individual KNOWS that his choice is coming at the expense of the group.
Well said.. and clarified. However I do think it applies here. I'll respond after work in more detail because I do think game theory was "used" against the uniformed public.
It's curious you bring up the Prisoner's Dilemma. For those unfamiliar, this is a a basic exercise in game theory. Those interested can wiki or otherwise look up the term. For the present discussion,
Ryan's comment is not strictly accurate and bears a little clarification. In a social trap, an individual's best choice actually IS the one in his best interest. The problem is that this rationally selfish choice produces a non-optimal cost on a group. Ryan would be correct if he said the selfish choice works against the AVERAGE outcome.
While game theory sounds rather abstract, it actually has very many practical real-world implications and is a key part of many fields, including sociology and psychology.
I'd also disagree with Ryan on one final point: Making the selfish choice is probably most often the right one (from the individual's point of view.) When a system is in place to aid optimal outcomes for all (social rules, customs, laws, and so on), this actually requires the conscious consent of the individual, or equivalently good training, so that he will choose the action that produces the optimal outcome for all, not just the best for him, right now. In other words, being "selfish" is not always a bad thing, but it is IF the individual KNOWS that his choice is coming at the expense of the group.
Well said.. and clarified. However I do think it applies here. I'll respond after work in more detail because I do think game theory was "used" against the uniformed public.