Game Theory and the Social Contract, Vol. 1: Playing Fair
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
In Game Theory and the Social Contract, Ken Binmore argues that game theory provides a systematic tool for investigating ethical matters. His reinterpretation of classical social contract ideas within a game-theoretic framework generates new insights into the fundamental questions of social philosophy. He clears the way for this ambitious endeavor by first focusing on foundational issues -- paying particular attention to the failings of recent attempts to import game -- theoretic ideas into social and political philosophy.
Binmore shows how ideas drawn from the classic expositions of Harsanyi and Rawls produce a synthesis that is consistent with the modern theory of noncooperative games. In the process, he notes logical weaknesses in other analyses of social cooperation and coordination, such as those offered by Rousseau, Kant, Gauthier, and Nozick. He persuasively argues that much of the current literature elaborates a faulty analysis of an irrelevant game.
Game Theory and the Social Contract makes game-theoretic ideas more widely accessible to those with only a limited knowledge of the field. Instructional material is woven into the narrative, which is illustrated with many simple examples, and the mathematical content has been reduced to a minimum.
About the Author
Ken Binmore is Professor of Economics at University College, London. His previous books include Economic Organizations as Games, The Economics of Bargaining, Essays on the Foundations of Game Theory, and Fun and Games, an undergraduate textbook on game theory.
Game Theory and the Social Contract, Vol. 1: Playing Fair,Ken Binmore,The MIT Press,0262023636,Business & Economics,Business/Economics,Economics - General,Game Theory,Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords,General,Philosophy,Political Science (Specific Aspects),Political science,Social contract,Business & Economics / Economics / General
Game Theory and the Social Contract, Vol. 1: Playing Fair
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