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The Calculus of Selfishness: (Princeton Series in Theoretical and Computational Biology)
The Calculus of Selfishness - Princeton Series in Theoretical and Computational Biology
Author: Karl Sigmund
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 o...  more » 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.
ISBN-13: 9780691142753
ISBN-10: 0691142750
Publication Date: 1/24/2010
Pages: 192
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Publisher: Princeton University Press
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
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